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Four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson recalled a coaching moment with Dawn Staley, which fueled her success to become one of the best women's basketball players.
In an appearance on "First We Feast" on Thursday, Wilson discussed her time with the South Carolina Gamecocks under Staley. Wilson played four years with the team from 2014 until 2018. Wilson and host Sean Evans recalled that Staley did not believe in Wilson's skills at the onset.
"It was a journey," Wilson said (Timestamp: 6:00). "It had its highs, it had its lows. You want to win with her, you want to run through a brick wall for her, even if she doubted you at first. Like, she's also someone you want to prove wrong.
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"I guess that's her tactic of coaching, 'cause I definitely wanted to prove her wrong every single time I stepped on that court."
Wilson added that her relationship with the legendary coach is a "good mixture" of good and bad times. Wilson was then asked about one of her favorite coaching moments with Staley.
"She's said something along the lines of like, 'I don't know why you on this court. (Get) your raggedy a** off this court because you're being average,'" Wilson added (Timestamp: 6:40). "And I was like, raggedy a** is crazy."
During her time under Staley, A'ja Wilson won three straight SEC Player of the Year awards. She led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA championship in 2017 and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player that season.
A'ja Wilson recalls drills that shaped her game in the WNBA
In the same interview with Sean Evans on "First We Feast" on Thursday, Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson was asked about the "most impactful" drill in her youth.
The seven-time WNBA All-Star recalled a drill that South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley used to run and the Mikan drill, which is used as a warm-up to start a shooting practice.
"I remember in college, coach Staley had this drill called wing-to-wing and you're literally just running up and down the court," Wilson said (Timestamp: 4:10). "I wasn't really too happy about that 'cause I don't really like to run like that even though my job is running. But it's a difference between getting in shape cardio running and running.
"Those drills are not the best, but the Mikan is kinda like a classic. So I don't really hate on it too much."
The Mikan drill is named after Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer George Mikan. It was designed to improve the shooting touch around the basket. Wilson's father, Roscoe Wilson Jr., used to put the Aces star through the Mikan drills when she was younger.
A'ja Wilson is coming off just her eighth WNBA season and has already collected several accolades, resulting in her being named the greatest basketball player of this generation. Aside from her numerous individual awards, she led Las Vegas to a third title in four seasons.
