ST. LOUIS (USBWA) –The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected South Carolina's A'ja Wilson as its first-ever Women's National Freshman of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 7. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 17 this season.

As the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, Wilson earned consideration for the weekly award, which was chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women’s basketball, from a list of Division I conference freshmen of the week.

Wilson, a 6-5 guard/forward from Hopkins, S.C., scored in double figures in all three games played by the Dawn Staley-coached top-ranked Gamecocks, averaging 14.3 points and shooting 16-for-32 for 50 percent from the field. Additionally, her putback with 1.8 seconds left enabled South Carolina to stay No. 1 after a 51-50 victory at then-No. 9 Duke.

Since the 2003-04 season, the USBWA has named a Women's National Freshman of the Year. At the 2012 Women's Final Four in Denver, the organization announced going forward that the national and weekly player award has been named for Hall of Famer and former UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale and another famous name in women’s basketball name is being deliberated for the freshman award. At the conclusion of the regular season, the freshman of the year will be voted on by the entire USBWA membership. The winner of the 2015 Women’s National Freshman of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards event in Tampa, site of the 2015 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.

2014-15 Women's National Freshmen of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 7: A'ja Wilson, South Carolina (Southeastern Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 14: Kaylee Johnson, Stanford (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 21: Azurá Stevens, Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 28: Brianna Turner, Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 4: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 11: Ashunae Durant, Hofstra (Colonial Athletic Association)
• Week ending Jan. 18: Brianna Turner, Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 25: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 1: Ariel Atkins, Texas (Big 12 Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 8: Azurá Stevens, Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 15: Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State (Southeastern Conference)