university of south carolina

Former Gamecock Named WNBA Player of the Year

A’ja Wilson can now add WNBA player of the year to her resume. Wilson, a former star of the women’s basketball team at the University of South Carolina, has officially been named The Associated Press WNBA Player of the year for the 2019-2020 season.

The 24-year-old first rose to fame during her career as a forward for the gamecocks, where she led the team to their first NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship in 2017. In addition, she was also named SEC Player of the Year for a record three straight years. The 6-foot-four powerhouse ended her collegiate career as the most decorated athlete of any sport at the University of South Carolina.

It’s no surprise that Wilson was then selected as the first overall draft pick by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA draft, where she is currently averaging 20.5. points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Bill Laimbeer, current coach of the Las Vegas Aces, raved over Wilson’s ability to effectively lead the team to their 18-4 record saying, “She knows who she is, she knows where she’s going. She knows that she’s in charge, and she’s responsible for our team. She has taken this upon her shoulders.”

It’s safe to say A’ja Wilson is making her home state very proud.

News

UofSC Starts New COVID-19 Testing

As the University of South Carolina campus prepares to reopen for hybrid classes, mandatory COVID-19 testing will take place. In a few short weeks, all residents living in University Housing this fall will complete a final checklist as well as proof of testing. Clearance will not be allowed without prior information sent to the Student Health Services.

Before students arrive on campus for the first day of classes, they will be required to upload their COVID-19 testing results to the Student Health Center’s portal. This information will tell UofSC whether or not a student has previously been infected by COVID-19, is currently affected, and whether or not the student has antibodies.

On-campus testing became available Wednesday, August 19. In order to test students, faculty, and staff, a saliva-based test will be delivered. This rapid and non-invasive test allows for quick delivering results, making it an ideal choice for the school board. These daily tests will be administered with no limit in an attempt to keep the UofSC community safe.

Alongside testing, face coverings are now required in all closed spaces. Social distancing also remains in place, plus handwashing and sanitizing as well. UofSC is the only SC university to approve saliva testing for diagnostic purposes. If all goes well, it’s likely surrounding colleges will follow suit.