South Carolina women's basketball defeated Texas in the Final Four on Friday night, ultimately clinching a spot in the national championship. South Carolina legend A'ja Wilson was in attendance for the game, and it is safe to say that forward Joyce Edwards took notice.
"I mean, everything," Edwards said of what it meant to have Wilson in attendance, via ESPN. "The reason why we're here is because of her. I feel like it's crazy for her to see it full circle, how her legacy is inspiring other girls just like me to come out here and play."
A'ja Wilson's South Carolina career
Wilson played at South Carolina for four seasons, winning one championship along the way. She averaged 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.6 blocks and 1.0 steals per outing during her time at South Carolina. She earned plenty of awards during her time with the Gamecocks.
Many young players have looked up to Wilson over the years. She is the best player in the WNBA right now, and she's been playing at a high level for a long time. Yet, she is still only 28 years old.
One has to imagine that Wilson was thrilled to see South Carolina get the job done on Friday. The Gamecocks are set to play in their third national championship in the past four seasons.
Joyce Edwards leads South Carolina to big Final Four win
South Carolina utilized a team effort on Friday against Texas. Te-Hina Paopao led the team in scoring with 14 points. Joyce Edwards, however, recorded a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. She added six assists in the victory.
Edwards, 19, did not even start Friday's game. However, she certainly made an immense impact.
Edwards has been one of the best players off the bench in college basketball all season. She averaged 12.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Edwards also shot 54.1 percent from the field.
Edwards and South Carolina should have a realistic opportunity to earn a championship this year. With that being said, nothing will come easy.
UConn and UCLA are going head-to-head on Friday night as well. Their game is currently in progress. Either opponent will prove to be a difficult matchup for the Gamecocks.
That said, the South Carolina women's basketball team will not back down. They will enter the championship game with plenty of confidence regardless of which team they end up playing against.