Dawn Staley Provides Update on Injured Gamecock Ashlyn Watkins’ Recovery and What’s Next

Live Update: South Carolina Women’s Basketball – Watkins’ Recovery Progress

In an update on Zia Cooke‘s recovery, Dawn Staley shared some positive news on Saturday regarding Cooke’s rehabilitation. According to Staley, the recovery process for Cooke is “going smoothly,” and she’s been off crutches for some time now. While it’s still uncertain exactly when Cooke will return to full on-court activity, Staley expects her to resume some form of court work by mid to late summer.

There remains uncertainty about whether Cooke might pursue a medical redshirt waiver for this season. She’s played in 14 of USC’s 39 games so far, which is 36% of the total games. Under NCAA guidelines, players can qualify for a medical redshirt if they’ve appeared in 30% or fewer of their team’s games, though these regulations are not always strictly enforced.

Staley expressed optimism about Cooke’s recovery, noting, “Her journey back will probably get her back into a real flow,” suggesting that Cooke is on the right path and could contribute significantly once she’s fully recovered.

Stay tuned for further updates as we follow Cooke’s road to recovery.

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When Did South Carolina Last Lose a Tournament Game? Dawn Staley’s Streak at risk

South Carolina has secured its fifth consecutive trip to the Final Four after narrowly edging past Duke to claim the Birmingham Regional 2 title!

At this point, for Gamecocks fans, it’s becoming a familiar sensation. Under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s women’s basketball program has solidified its place as a powerhouse. This marks the defending NCAA tournament champions’ seventh trip to the national semifinal since Staley took the helm in 2008.

But don’t let the dominance fool you — Duke put up an intense fight in the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils even held a four-point lead heading into the final quarter, thanks to a stellar performance from freshman forward Toby Fournier, who almost pushed Staley and her squad to face a rare March setback.

When did South Carolina last lose in March Madness?

Speaking of rare losses, the last time South Carolina was defeated in March Madness was on March 31, 2023, at the hands of an Iowa team led by Caitlin Clark, a two-time AP Player of the Year and current WNBA standout. The Gamecocks fell short in a tough 77-73 loss. Since then, however, South Carolina has strung together 10 straight March Madness victories, with a major revenge win over Iowa the very next season, clinching the 2024 championship in an 87-75 victory.

Despite Staley’s impressive run, South Carolina’s sustained success isn’t entirely unprecedented. UConn dominated the tournament from 2013 to 2017, winning 24 consecutive games and securing the first four-peat in women’s basketball history. The Huskies have also captured multiple back-to-back titles, so the Gamecocks still have some catching up to do.

However, the inevitable happens — the mighty will fall. It’s rare, but it happens. UConn experienced this on the men’s side this year, with Dan Hurley’s decorated team being knocked out in the Round of 32 by Florida.