South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has something unique in common with her former player and Gamecock great A’ja Wilson. Both now have statues of their likenesses in Columbia. During Staley’s remarks Wednesday at the unveiling of her own statue, she took time to defend Wilson’s statue in light of an opposing coach’s recent remarks.

The long-awaited statue of South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley was unveiled Wednesday near downtown Columbia. The statue, which is 14 feet tall, made of bronze and weighs nearly 2,000 pounds, depicts a smiling Staley on a ladder holding a basketball net, as if she’d just cut it down after winning a national championship.

With all the wins under her belt, trophies and title nets in the Gamecocks’ awards case, Staley didn’t need this statue to cement her legacy in Columbia or in women’s basketball. But one forged by fire will stand as she still roams the sidelines, a testament to Staley’s journey.