Near the beginning of the South Carolina women's basketball team's championship 2016-17 season, star forward A'ja Wilson wasn't even sure she wanted to play the sport anymore.
The All-American seriously pondered quitting basketball altogether around October 2016, according to a feature released by ESPN The Magazine on Monday.
The reason for her doubt was the death of her beloved grandmother, Hattie Rakes, she told ESPN. Rakes and Wilson were especially close throughout the latter's childhood, as Rakes encouraged Wilson to overcome her self-consciousness and push herself forward, in addition to introducing her grandchild to her lifelong love of pearls.