Dawn Staley’s Comments Following South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament Victory Over Indiana

The conversation surrounding the intensity of high-level basketball continues to heat up. “But you still hear 13 voices talking at the same time. They’ve probably conditioned themselves to be able to compartmentalize and just hear everything and know the gist of what the chaos is, but it sounds like chaos to us,” a source explained, emphasizing how players manage the noise and distractions amidst the fast-paced action on the court.

As the conversation shifts to the broader picture of women’s basketball, there’s a spotlight on what’s held Indiana back from consistently breaking into the upper ranks of the sport. “I mean, Teri Moren can coach. She can really coach. She does a really great job at getting her players to play to their strengths,” said a close insider. Despite her strong coaching and talented roster, there’s an acknowledgment that Indiana‘s journey to the NCAA Tournament’s top tier is often about more than just skill. “Obviously, some of it is luck. Some of it is matchups. Like, it really is, when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. I think you just have to keep plugging. She’s got the talent. She’s got the assistant coaches pool of people. You’ve just got to get lucky.”

Switching gears, the discussion delves into a pivotal moment in a recent game—South Carolina’s dramatic comeback. “I think, when we’re down at halftime – which is not very often – you want to keep the same energy that you have when you’re up,” one player shared, reflecting on the team’s mindset during the intense moments. “We’ve got an experienced group of players that really know what needs to take place in order for us to correct what was going on out there. Part of it was just we missed good shots; part of it was we missed bad shots. Part of it was our defense wasn’t hitting on all cylinders.”

It’s clear that the team’s approach is about staying grounded, with a sense of perspective. “The game is 40 minutes. I think, within that time frame, we can get to our good habits, and we did that coming out of halftime.” The third quarter, in particular, marked a key turning point where they found an opportunity to integrate Chloe back into the game. “In the third quarter, we got a chance to get Chloe on the floor, keep her on the floor a little bit longer than we did in the first half,” the player explained. “She actually, when she got her second foul, she was like, ‘I was ball pressuring.’ You were not only ball pressuring, you were fouling. Like, stay in the game, Chloe.”

And with that, the team refocused and turned the tide, demonstrating the grit and determination needed to weather the storm.