© Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Audio By Carbonatix
The South Carolina women’s basketball team improved to 21-1 on the season after an 83-66 win over SEC rival Auburn on Sunday. There were stars in the arena to take in that dominant victory.
NBA center Bam Adebayo was seen sitting courtside while former Gamecock A’Ja Wilson was honored for her past accomplishments. Head coach Dawn Staley couldn’t help but to comment on their presence after the game.
Dawn Staley on celebrity row at today’s game.
“I think Bam Adebayo was here…I don’t know why…” pic.twitter.com/qJLh43TZDA
— No Cap Space WBB (@NoCapSpaceWBB) February 2, 2025
Staley noticed Adebayo watching from the sidelines alongside A’Ja Wilson’s family as her jersey was retired in Colonial Life Arena. In four seasons with the program, Wilson was named SEC Player of the Year three times. She’s South Carolina’s all-time leading scorer and helped the program win its first national title.
There’s been speculation that Wilson and Adebayo are dating, though neither had previously confirmed the relationship publicly. Dawn Staley played along with those rumors with her response.
With that being said, A’Ja Wilson essentially confirmed the pair as a couple in her thank you speech. She referenced Bam Adebayo as her “favorite Olympian from out of town.”
Bam Adebayo really dropped 30/12/9 plus the game-winner then flew out to watch his superstar GF’s jersey get retired where she hard launched them in the speech.
Love that for Bam. pic.twitter.com/DleFO0ksdV
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) February 2, 2025
Adebayo had a busy week as the ceremony came one day after he hit a game-winning shot to beat the Spurs. That shot capped a 30-point performance in which he also recorded 12 rebounds.
Last year, it was Wilson on hand as Adebayo received a key to the County of Miami. The roles reversed this past weekend. Dawn Staley did her best to stir the pot as it relates to her former star’s love interest.