South Carolina women's basketball legend A'ja Wilson named TIME Athlete of the Year

On Tuesday, TIME announced its 2025 Athlete of the Year, and the honor went to none other than South Carolina women’s basketball legend A’ja Wilson.

Wilson, who at just 29 has an argument as the greatest women’s basketball player of all time, put together another all-time great year on the court.

She is now a four-time MVP, the first player to ever accomplish that feat in the WNBA. She won her third WNBA title, too, overcoming a slow team start on the way to a finals sweep. Wilson also brought home her third WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award, made her seventh WNBA All-Star Game, and moved into second place in league history in Player of the Week awards and first place for Player of the Month honors. She became the fastest player to ever reach 5000 career points, too.

For the second time, Wilson averaged at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal for an entire season. No one else has ever done that, even once.

In short, A’ja Wilson utterly dominated her sport this year.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!

However, Wilson had a big year off the floor, too.

She released her first signature sneaker, the A’One, this spring. The A’Two was announced just a couple of months later. Wilson made a multitude of public appearances, including ones on Good Morning, America and the Jennifer Hudson Show. Rappers used her name in their lyrics.

Wilson’s Gamecock women’s basketball program retired her No. 22 jersey. USC also inducted her into the University of South Carolina Lettermen’s Association Hall of Fame. The program to which she brought a first national championship (and a National Player of the Year selection) honored her with two major recognitions in the same calendar year.

TIME had an easy choice for the 2025 Athlete of the Year.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!