<\/p>\n
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley recently reflected on a turning point in her career involving current WNBA superstar A\u2019ja Wilson.<\/p>\n
Staley explained that during Wilson\u2019s time with the Gamecocks, she went against her own coaching staff. Today, the Hall of Fame coach and the WNBA MVP bond is defined by mutual respect and the championship success they built together at South Carolina.<\/p>\n
Dawn Staley Reflects on Defining Decision With A\u2019ja Wilson<\/p>\n
In a recent conversation<\/a> with Women\u2019s Health, Dawn Staley and A\u2019ja Wilson revisited a moment<\/a> that tested their coach-and-player relationship and ultimately shaped the culture at South Carolina. When asked about handling disagreements, Staley explained that Wilson had a habit she called \u201cblending.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA\u2019ja was always the focal point of our team, and sometimes she just blended,\u201d Staley said. \u201cI call it \u2018blending\u2019 when you\u2019re playing to the level of people who don\u2019t have your talent or skill set, and she\u2019s not a player that should blend on anybody\u2019s sport at any time. One day, she was blending, so I kindly told her\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Wilson quickly jumped in: \u201cKindly?!\u201d Staley finished the thought, \u201cI told her to go on the sideline and stay there for the rest of practice. Other coaches were trying to convince me to get her back in the practice. But I said no. You want to blend? Go ahead and blend. You want to be average? That\u2019s where average people stay.\u201d<\/p>\n Wilson admitted she did not enjoy that moment. \u201cWe\u2019re both petty, so I was like, well, you\u2019re not about to press my buttons! I\u2019m good with being average! I\u2019m okay! I\u2019m fine!\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cSo, yeah, I don\u2019t know if you kindly said stand over there\u2026 I think you said \u2018GO over there.\u2019 But yeah, I didn\u2019t like that disagreement, although it taught me a lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n