At 28, Wilson is one of the most recognizable faces in women’s sports. She won an ESPY in 2024 for Best Female Athlete and led the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. She has been named an All-Star six times since entering the league after being selected the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018.

A’ja Wilson pulled up to the Ellison Building in South Carolina Fairgrounds on Monday morning and was flooded with memories of the S.C. State Fair. But Wilson wasn’t there for a deep-fried Oreo, a ride on the Ferris wheel or to gawk at the sand sculptures.