Dawn Staley Calls South Carolina Women’s Basketball “Post Player U”

In a thrilling display on Sunday, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley guided her team to a 64-45 victory over Texas, clinching their third consecutive SEC regular-season title and SEC Tournament championship. This dominant win solidified the Gamecocks’ status as a No. 1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. As has been the case for much of the past decade, South Carolina’s success was driven by key contributions from their frontcourt.

During her appearance on “Carolina Calls” this Tuesday, Coach Staley took a moment to shower praise on her post players, especially Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin. Both players, along with guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, were named to the SEC All-Tournament Team, with Kitts earning the prestigious title of SEC Tournament MVP.

Staley had nothing but admiration for Kitts, calling her “a dawg when it comes to playing this game.” She continued, saying, “I think it’s cool to see her progress.” Kitts has been playing some of her best basketball as of late, having earned SEC Player of the Week honors two weeks ago before picking up the MVP award on Sunday.

The praise didn’t stop there. Staley also expressed deep pride in senior Sania Feagin, acknowledging her resilience and dedication. “I’m really, really proud of Feagin…it’s easy to leave a place that you don’t feel like you’re ever going to get any playing time or like you’ll ever start,” Staley said. Feagin stuck it out in Columbia, eventually earning a starting role. Her coach now believes that Feagin is “making herself into a really good pro player.”

Looking ahead to next season, Kitts, freshman Joyce Edwards, and the injured Ashlyn Watkins will play significant roles in South Carolina’s future. However, when responding to a caller’s question, Staley acknowledged the need for a true center moving forward. Currently, Kitts, Feagin, Watkins, and Edwards are all under 6’4″, and while the Gamecocks have received strong play from their forwards, they lack a traditional center in the rotation.

Staley didn’t hesitate when addressing the possibility of adding a bigger player to the roster, saying, “[We will] see where the transfer portal leads us.”

While the Gamecocks have seen impressive performances from their current forwards, they’ve often had to play out of position due to the lack of a true center. Staley pointed to past South Carolina teams that had success with power forwards playing alongside dominant bigs, like Alaina Coates, A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, and Kamilla Cardoso, all of whom stood 6’4″ or taller. Staley reiterated that, whether it’s a returning player like Adhel Tac or Sakima Walker, who could apply for an additional year of eligibility, or a transfer portal acquisition, South Carolina must find a player of that size. “We are Post Player U,” she emphasized.

For now, Kitts, Feagin, and Edwards, along with the lesser-used Tac, Walker, and Maryam Dauda, will continue to dominate the paint as the Gamecocks defend their SEC Tournament title through March and April. Even without a dominant center, South Carolina remains a strong contender for the national championship this season.

The Gamecocks are expected to be named a No. 1 seed when the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday. Fans can watch the selection show live on ESPN (or the ESPN app) at 8:00 p.m. this Sunday.