Wilson Pays Off Bet in Style, Honors UConn Rivalry After NCAA Championship

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On April 6, the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies women's basketball team overwhelmed the University of South Carolina Gamecocks to secure the 2025 NCAA national championship. It was a commanding performance that earned legendary head coach Geno Auriemma his twelfth national title, further cementing his legacy in collegiate basketball history. For South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and her loyal fan base, the loss was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow. One of the most high-profile members of that fan base is Las Vegas Aces forward and reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. A South Carolina legend in her own right, Wilson led the Gamecocks to a national championship during her college career and now has a statue outside Colonial Life Arena. In the lead-up to the title game, Wilson made a friendly but high-stakes wager with her Aces teammate Kiah Stokes, a former UConn standout: the loser would have to wear the winning school’s gear to the team’s first preseason game.

When the Las Vegas Aces took the court against the Dallas Wings for their first WNBA preseason game on Friday, Wilson showed up in full UConn apparel, honoring the terms of her bet. account posted a photo and video of Wilson decked out in blue and white, captioned, “NEVER thought we’d see the day A’ja Wilson wears UConn gear… but that’s what happens when you lose a bet to Kiah Stokes! Happy first day of preseason. Adding even more intrigue to the preseason matchup was the professional debut of Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers, the former UConn guard who played a pivotal role in the Huskies’ championship run. This marked Bueckers' first game since hoisting the NCAA trophy, and it also set the stage for a symbolic handoff: college star turned pro facing off against the reigning league MVP, who just happened to be wearing her old team’s colors.

While the moment was lighthearted, it also reflected the deep connections and rivalries that define women’s basketball. A’ja Wilson’s willingness to embrace the wager—despite the sting of defeat—demonstrates both her competitive spirit and sense of humor. And for Bueckers, it was a warm, if slightly ironic, welcome to the professional ranks. Though Wilson likely wished for a different outcome in the championship game, her UConn-clad appearance was a playful reminder that the lines between rivalry and respect are often blurred in the tight-knit world of women’s basketball.