Dawn Staley Celebrates SEC Tournament Championship with Heartwarming Family Photo

Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks have claimed their ninth SEC Tournament Championship with a dominant 64-45 win over Texas, securing their third consecutive title. After the victory, Staley shared a heartfelt moment with her family, captured by cameras as she wore the freshly cut net around her neck, holding the trophy.

A sweet mommet as #Gamecock HC Dawn Staley (@dawnstaley) and her family take a pic after coach brings home a 9th SEC title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/aKg2U4MENr

— Chaz R Frazier (@Chazf_tv) March 9, 2025

Chloe Kitts led the Gamecocks with 15 points and nine rebounds, but it was the Gamecocks’ suffocating defense and strong second-quarter performance that sealed the victory. The first quarter saw a tight battle with South Carolina holding just a 12-10 edge, but they exploded in the second, outscoring Texas 21-6. The Longhorns were held to a mere 29.6% shooting from the field.

Staley, now in her 17th season at South Carolina, has a career record of 469-109 and has guided the Gamecocks to six Final Fours and three national championships. With the SEC Championship win, South Carolina has earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and is projected to be the top overall seed in the upcoming field.

While the Gamecocks are favored to repeat as champions, they know that seeding means little once the tournament begins. The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament starts March 19 with the First Four, but South Carolina will play their first game on either March 21 or 22. The team will have a clearer picture of their path after Selection Sunday on March 16.

In a standout performance, Sania Feagin delivered a crucial 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to extend South Carolina’s lead to 52-33. Staley was full of praise for her senior forward, noting her commitment and growth throughout the season.

“Proud. Proud. She stuck with us when it wasn’t popular,” Staley said. “You can see if she wants to play anything less than her standard, she probably should have transferred but she wanted to play to her standard, and she’s stepped up in a big way.”

Feagin finished the game with 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists, shooting 5-7 from the field. She has been a key contributor throughout the SEC Tournament, scoring in double figures in all three games, despite averaging only 8.0 points per game during the season.

Feagin’s performance will be critical to South Carolina’s postseason success—this season, the Gamecocks have yet to lose a game when Feagin scores eight or more points.

Stay tuned as we continue to follow the Gamecocks’ journey toward another championship run.