Gamecocks Band, Dawn Staley, and A’ja Wilson Shine on the World Stage in Emotional Mother’s Day Celebration
Columbia, SC — May 11, 2025
In a celebration that echoed from South Carolina to the global stage, the University of South Carolina women’s basketball program honored Mother’s Day with a moving tribute that featured the Gamecock Band, head coach Dawn Staley, and WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson. The event, titled “For the Mothers Who Raised Champions,” brought together generations of Gamecocks in an unforgettable display of gratitude, pride, and unity.
Held at Colonial Life Arena and streamed globally, the celebration opened with the Gamecock Band delivering a powerful performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” followed by a medley of Gamecocks classics that had fans and families alike rising to their feet.
Coach Dawn Staley, who has mentored some of the greatest players in women’s basketball history, took the stage with a powerful message:
> “Behind every great athlete is a mother — or a mother figure — who believed before the world did.”
The highlight of the night came when A’ja Wilson, beaming in live from Las Vegas, addressed the crowd via a massive video screen. She surprised Coach Staley with a heartfelt tribute, calling her a “second mom” and thanking her for “teaching us how to win on and off the court.”
“I wouldn’t be here — as a WNBA champion or as a woman — without Coach,” said Wilson. “This is more than basketball. This is family.”
The event concluded with a special “Wall of Women” presentation, unveiling portraits of influential mothers connected to the program — including Staley’s late mother, Estelle, and A’ja’s mother, Eva — as a permanent installation inside the arena.
The powerful ceremony resonated well beyond Columbia, trending across social media platforms with hashtags like #MothersOfTheGame and #ForeverToThee, showcasing the Gamecocks’ impact not just on the court, but in the hearts of fans around the world.
