Whenever A’ja Wilson shines, South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley never holds back. Staley has always been at the forefront, from participating in Olympic performances to applauding the Aces Center for her historical achievements that often go unnoticed. Now that Wilson has reached yet another milestone, Staley couldn’t stay silent.

On September 16th, Staley took to her official X account to congratulate Wilson. “@_ajawilson22, you did it with the middy!!! Congrats to you, the one, the only, A’ONE!! Hand her her things!!!! MVP! DPOY! First and Last team All @WNBA,” she said in a statement while calling for Wilson to be given the title she deserves.

It was Wilson’s illustrious 29 points during the Aces’ 84-71 win over the Connecticut Sun on September 16th that prompted Staley to make this request. The two-time MVP is now also the first woman to reach the 1,000-point milestone in a single WNBA season. Her achievement surpasses Jewell Loyd, who held the record with 939 points tallied last year.

But achieving this feat wasn’t as easy as it may seem. It came with only 57 seconds remaining in the game at Michelob Ultra Arena. As the 28-year-old dominated, she racked up 29 points for her team while contributing two blocks and nine rebounds. How could Staley not congratulate her dearest student?

A fuel to Wilson’s journey to greatness

For Staley and the Aces’ center, their relationship goes beyond that of head coach and collegiate player. It’s much deeper. When Wilson was at her lowest, South Carolina’s head coach stood by her side to help her battle long-term dyslexia. She even made Wilson read aloud to the entire locker room so she could overcome her childhood fears.

This strengthened their bond over the years. Since then, every time Wilson needs support, she finds Staley at her back. Even last Wednesday, Staley showed her love while giving Wilson the recognition that had been missed during a game versus the Indiana Fever. “Giving @_ajawilson22 her flowers for breaking the single-season scoring record for most points in a @WNBA season,” she said.

It was during that game that Wilson’s record-breaking performance was overlooked by the announcers. Despite this oversight, Wilson, with her 27.1 scoring average, remained resilient as she received acknowledgment from her teammates and stars like LeBron James. On top of that, her former coach declared, “When the love comes from love and loved ones, it’s fulfilling enough!” As the 28-year-old’s career is already at its peak, another MVP title seems imminent this year.