In her own words: A'ja Wilson is the Dishie Pre-season POY; Time for Pre-season Honors!

Into the great wide open we go!

It is time to look into the Dishin & Swishin crystal ball and see what we can come up with for pre-season “Dishie” selections for the NCAA women’s basketball season!

There will be no talk about “UConn dominance is not good for the sport” this year! There are probably ten to twelve teams that can realistically look to April and say “why not us?”

We cannot wait to see what this does for interest and ratings in the sport, and whether or not the possible parity that so many have wished for brings rewards in terms of viewers, ratings, interest and excitement.

Similarly, there is no Breanna Stewart this year, a clear cut, obvious Player of the Year, before the season even began. It will be a race to see who can elevate their game, and who can take their team to the top; because the Player of the Year does not have to have dominant stats, just be a dominant player on the court. That is something that can be done in victories, improving your game and your teammates, and that is just a beginning.

Without further ado then, the Dishies for Pre-season All-American and Player of the Year:

National Player of the Year: A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

The subject of the attached “In her own words,” Wilson needs to be the difference maker for Coach Dawn Staley’s team if they are to contend for the national title.  As Staley said, with leaders like Aleighsa Welch (freshman year) and Tiffany Mitchell (second year), Wilson was able to just go about her business on the court. This year, the junior will be asked to be a leader on and off the court.

The local product has been a difference maker in the community, helping the G Hive grow to epic proportions, as the team has moved up the ranks and contended nationally.

This year could be the year South Carolina wins it all.  Already a conference player of the year and All-American, there is no reason to doubt that Wilson will make t