Tag: Dawn Staley

In just one week, South Carolina women’s basketball will take the court at the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament with the goal of defending their back-to-back conference titles. However, as the regular season winds down with only two games left, Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks are still in limbo, tied with No. 1 Texas for the top spot in the SEC standings, both holding a 13-1 record.

This deadlock may not be resolved until Sunday, with the possibility of a coin toss deciding which team claims the top seed, according to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Staley, clearly frustrated by the situation, expressed her discontent with the tiebreaker scenario when speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

“If we take care of business and Texas takes care of business, our fate is in a coin toss. Yay,” Staley remarked. She continued, “I think we should’ve thought a little bit more ahead of this situation knowing that we were bringing a Texas and a Oklahoma into the SEC. That’s just me, though.”

As The Greenville News‘ Lulu Kesin reported, if both the Gamecocks and Longhorns finish the week with 4-0 records, the two teams will share the title of co-SEC regular season champions, and a coin flip by Sankey will determine who secures the No. 1 seed in next week’s tournament.

The SEC has outlined three tiebreakers to resolve such situations:

A) Head-to-head win-loss results between the two teams
B) Win-loss record against the No. 1 seed and, if necessary, proceeding through the No. 14 seed
C) A coin flip by the commissioner

Since South Carolina and Texas split their regular-season series 1-1, with each team claiming a home victory, tiebreakers A and B are no longer applicable. In a typically playful fashion, Staley quipped about the situation, adding another twist to the story:

“It will be a coin toss if all goes the way I’m seeing it. Texas is probably not seeing it that way, they probably want us to drop a game. I hope they drop a game too. Take it out of the commissioner’s hands,” Staley said. “It is what it is.”

The Gamecocks have claimed the SEC regular season title in three of the last four seasons under Staley, with the exception of the 2020-2021 season.

As South Carolina heads into their final two games of the regular season, they face Ole Miss on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, followed by a home matchup with No. 14 Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at Colonial Life Arena.

In the latest NCAA Tournament projections, South Carolina women’s basketball is still slated as a No. 1 seed, with the No. 6 Gamecocks (25-3, 13-1 SEC) expected to host the first round of play in Columbia and compete in the Birmingham Region once again. Despite a setback against UConn, which briefly shifted projections toward Spokane, Washington, ESPN analyst Charlie Creme now has the Gamecocks back in the Birmingham Region.

After securing two recent wins against Arkansas and Vanderbilt, Coach Dawn Staley’s squad now prepares for their final regular-season games—Ole Miss on Thursday at 9 p.m. (ESPN) and Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ESPN).

According to the latest projections, South Carolina will host a First Round game against either UNCG or High Point, with the winner moving on to face Illinois or South Dakota State.

Charlie Creme’s most recent bracket analysis places South Carolina in the Birmingham 3 Region, with a match-up against the winner of a First Four game between UNCG and High Point and eventual competition against either Illinois or South Dakota State.

The Gamecocks are currently ranked second in the NCAA’s NET rankings, as UConn took over the No. 1 spot last week. South Carolina has been impressive on the road with a 7-2 record, 5-0 on neutral courts, and 13-1 at home. They’ve also excelled in Quad 1 games with an 11-3 record, while maintaining perfect records in Quads 2 (4-0), 3 (3-0), and 4 (7-0).

Historically, South Carolina has been a powerhouse in NCAA women’s basketball. The Gamecocks have won three national championships under Dawn Staley since 2017, including their most recent undefeated season in 2023-24, where they went 38-0. With six Final Four appearances, seven Elite Eight finishes, and 14 Sweet 16s, South Carolina has firmly established itself as a dominant force in women’s college basketball. Additionally, they have claimed the SEC tournament title eight times and are an eight-time SEC regular-season champion.

A SPECIAL BOND—The special connection between MiLaysia Fulwiley and Joyce Edwards continues to evolve into one of South Carolina’s strongest assets on and off the court.

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Paul Mainieri Optimistic About Close Wins to Begin South Carolina Baseball Season

South Carolina’s head coach Paul Mainieri is feeling positive about the Gamecocks’ early challenges on the field. Though the team remains undefeated, their performance hasn’t been flawless. The Gamecocks had a close call against Winthrop, which left some fans scratching their heads, even after dominating Sacred Heart in the season opener. But for Mainieri, the tight game is no cause for concern. He values these gritty victories, a perspective he’s held for years thanks to advice from his father.

“I remember my dad vividly saying to me on the phone, ‘Hey, don’t ever be upset about winning close games, because you’re better off having those kinds of games. Your team will grow from it. They’ll learn how to be composed and poised at the end of the game. Down the road when they need to win that close game against a really tough opponent, they’ll have been there and done that, and that makes their confidence even that much better,’” Mainieri reflected.

The Gamecocks aren’t alone in facing tough matchups. Even the no. 8 Georgia Bulldogs experienced struggles, losing to UNC Wilmington on Sunday, only to later pull off a dramatic 9th-inning comeback against Kennesaw State. Not every team, however, has had the dominance displayed by Tennessee, who easily handled both Hofstra and UNC Asheville with lopsided victories.

Looking ahead, the Gamecocks are aiming to continue their perfect streak, with a weekend series against the Milwaukee Panthers on the horizon as they strive for a 6-0 record.

South Carolina Dominates Vanderbilt in 82-54 Victory

The South Carolina women’s basketball team asserted their dominance around the basket, securing an impressive 82-54 victory against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday.

The No. 6 Gamecocks (25-3, 13-1) came out strong, finishing the opening 10 minutes with a commanding 13-point lead. Their aggressive defense forced five turnovers, while their offensive hustle resulted in five offensive rebounds.

The intensity mirrored their performance against Florida on February 13, when the Gamecocks started strong offensively—a characteristic that was missing in recent games against Texas, UConn, and, to some extent, Arkansas.

Rebounding was key to South Carolina’s success, both offensively and defensively. By halftime, Coach Dawn Staley’s squad had already secured 14 offensive rebounds and 31 total boards. They finished with 47 rebounds to Vanderbilt’s 35 and earned 17 second-chance points. Staley’s team showcased an impressive ability to capitalize on their missed shots.

After Vanderbilt (19-9, 6-8) trimmed South Carolina’s 10-point halftime lead to six, the Gamecocks responded with a game-changing 11-1 run, shifting the momentum in their favor.

“We really didn’t make any adjustments. I think what we did was make layups,” said Staley. “We made layups. I thought we rebounded the ball, just really gave multiple efforts when it came to rebounding and defending.”

Known for their fast-break offense, the Gamecocks capitalized on every defensive rebound, looking to push the pace and successfully scoring 19 points in transition.

Vanderbilt’s freshman star, Mikayla Blakes, entered the game averaging 23.4 points per game and had posted two 50-point games and five 30-point games this season. However, South Carolina’s defense held Blakes to just 19 points on 5-of-15 shooting, and she was also plagued by four fouls and three turnovers.

“She’s special,” Staley remarked about Blakes. “We tried to make her as inefficient as possible. Yes, she’s going to score points, but we wanted to make it difficult for her to score those points. I thought we did a pretty good job. I thought we made her defend, and that’s part of the process when someone is capable of scoring a lot of points, they can’t relax on defense. You have to make them guard, and I thought we did a good job of that.”

The Gamecocks completely shut down Vanderbilt’s fast-break opportunities, not allowing a single fast-break point, and forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 23 points.

“This league will eat you up if you turn the ball over,” Staley noted, acknowledging some of her team’s own miscues with 13 total turnovers. “I thought we did a good job not giving easy buckets.”

South Carolina’s relentless play on both ends of the floor propelled them to a decisive victory over the Commodores.

This is a live update, and today we’re talking about a monumental moment in the life of South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley. Not only is she a legendary coach and athlete, but she’s now adding author to her impressive resume.

On Friday morning, Staley took to social media to announce the release of her upcoming book, titled “Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three.” The book is set to drop on May 20 and promises to take readers through her incredible journey, from her roots in the Philadelphia projects to becoming a three-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time WNBA All-Star, and three-time NCAA champion with the South Carolina Gamecocks. It’s a story of resilience, growth, and life-changing lessons.

So why did Staley choose to write this book now, especially at the peak of her coaching career?

“Well, one, I just got tired of people asking me,” Staley joked. “Two, I had to do it before I forgot everything. Three, I think the season that we had last year made me really thankful for what I describe as an uncommon favor career. I think it was just fitting to kind of put that in the context of my life and share it with people.”

As many of you know, South Carolina had an undefeated 38-0 season last year, capturing their third national championship in school history. The team is currently 24-3 after a big win against Arkansas on Thursday and will be playing against Vanderbilt this Sunday.

Staley added with her signature humor that writing the book left her feeling “mentally exhausted,” something she typically only experiences after a big win. She shared, “Writing the book, you’ve got to think about a lot of things, like who the characters were, and sometimes that gets lost as you get older. But the good stuff is in it—everything that really made an impact on my life.”

She reflected on her upbringing in North Philly, emphasizing that everything in her life—every success—can be traced back to her foundation, including the powerful influence of her mother.

The book is being published by Black Privilege Publishing, an imprint of Atria Books. In a statement, Jonathan Karp, CEO of Simon & Schuster, expressed his excitement about acquiring Staley’s debut work: “We are honored to have acquired Dawn Staley’s debut book. Beyond her extraordinary accomplishments as a player and coach, she is known as an inspiring and exemplary leader. The same winning insights that have produced championship teams will benefit generations of readers.”

It’s safe to say that this book is set to inspire many, just as Staley has done throughout her remarkable career. We can’t wait for May 20 to roll around!

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has added another impressive accomplishment to her already outstanding career – she’s now a published author.

In an exciting announcement on social media this past Friday, Staley revealed that her book, titled “Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother and Life Lessons I Learned from All Three”, will be released on May 20.

Alongside an image of the cover, Staley posted a video reflecting on how for years, friends, family, and even strangers had urged her to write a book and often asked when it would happen.

“Number one I just got tired of people asking me,” Staley humorously shared when asked about the decision behind writing the book, especially while still managing her demanding coaching career. “Two, I had to do it before I forgot everything and three, I think the season that we had last year made me really thankful for what I described as an uncommon favor or career.”

Staley has frequently referred to the term “uncommon favor”, which speaks to her belief that blessings come in unexpected ways. Each year, her team selects a theme word, and after their historic 38-0 season last year, the theme for the 2024-25 season is “uncommon.”

Reflecting on her third national title and all the achievements from the 2023-24 season, Staley said she felt it was the perfect moment to share her journey and life lessons with the world, putting everything into perspective.

“Writing a book, you have to think about a lot of things,” Staley explained, acknowledging how challenging the process was. “The good stuff is in it. Things that were impactful to my life, starting out growing up in North Philly in the projects. Everything has a correlation to that, everything has a correlation back to my mother, everything has a correlation to the successes and it was just cause of the foundation that I had.”

As she reflected on her journey, Staley emphasized that this book is a deep dive into the powerful moments that shaped her life, drawing a direct line between her early life in North Philly, the influence of her mother, and the tremendous success she’s achieved today. A truly inspiring story awaits when “Uncommon Favor” hits bookshelves this May!

Dawn Staley, considered one of the wealthiest coaches in college basketball with an estimated net worth of $12 million, is facing some critical reflections following her South Carolina Gamecocks’ unexpected 87-58 loss to Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies this past Sunday. The blowout defeat, on home court, has led the coach to reevaluate her team’s current status and future goals.

The Gamecocks, ranked No. 6, struggled significantly in this matchup, shooting only 38% from the field, including a poor 18% from beyond the arc. In comparison, the Huskies shot 44% from the field and an impressive 46% from three-point range. UConn also dominated the rebounding battle 45-29, making the loss a rough performance for a squad otherwise considered elite.

During her media availability on Tuesday, Staley reflected on the tough loss, emphasizing that both she and her team need to learn from the game, return to their winning ways, and rediscover their identity.

“We need a game. Get back to just playing our style of play and focusing on playing Gamecock women’s basketball style of play. It really is simple; we just got to apply it,” Staley said, adding, “You take a loss, you have a tendency to think that, everything’s broken. Everything’s not broken…This is a part of our journey. The journey last year didn’t have a blemish as far as a loss, but there were blemishes. They were just not in the form of a loss. We got to embrace the good, whatever our journey is we’re still in everything that we want to accomplish.”

What’s in store for Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks?

Despite the setback, Staley’s Gamecocks remain one of the most formidable teams in the nation, with a 23-3 overall record. After 12 SEC matchups, the team has an impressive 11-1 conference record. Averaging 80.2 points per game on 46.4% shooting from the field, they continue to dominate opponents by an average margin of 22.9 points per game.

Key players such as Joyce Edwards, who leads with 13 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals, and MiLaysia Fulwiley, contributing 11.8 points, are critical to the team’s success. Te-Hina Paopao adds 10.4 points per game, while Chloe Kitts brings in 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Looking ahead, Staley and the No. 6 Gamecocks are set to face off against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. ET, as they aim to bounce back and return to their winning form.

In a shocking turn of events, South Carolina suffered their most significant loss in nearly seven years this weekend, as they were defeated 87-58 by UConn. The Gamecocks’ margin of defeat marked their worst since the Huskies handed them a 29-point loss in the 2018 Elite Eight.

Postgame, Dawn Staley expressed her team’s need for improvement, saying, “We got, we got to play better. We got to perform better. We just really had an embarrassing performance and we got to get back, get things back on track.”

From the midpoint of the first quarter, South Carolina never managed to close the gap. UConn, after a seven-point lead at the start of the second quarter, extended it to 22 by halftime, eventually increasing the margin to nearly 30 by the final buzzer. With the win, UConn improved to 24-3, while South Carolina dropped to 23-3.

This defeat also marked the end of another significant streak for South Carolina, one of several broken in recent months. UCLA ended their 43-game win streak back in November, Texas broke their 57-game conference winning streak just last weekend, and now, UConn has ended the Gamecocks’ 71-game home win streak at Colonial Life Arena.

However, as Staley pointed out, this only resets the Gamecocks’ journey for new streaks: “I feel really bad for our, our fans. I mean, they packed the house. They did their part. I mean, I think we have probably – all of our streaks have been broke this particular year. But it was a hell of a ride. I mean, to win 71 straight – is it 71? 70, 71 straight here. We got a chance to start a new streak on Thursday.”

Despite these setbacks, South Carolina still stands as a top-ten team, just half a game out of first place in their conference, with four games remaining before they return to league play this week. Staley emphasized, “We’ve got to get back at it.”

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First-Round Projections Have South Carolina DT T.J. Sanders As a Top NFL Draft Pick

The 2025 NFL Draft process is in full swing, and former South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders is now considered a potential first-round pick.

Although Sanders might have flown under the radar this season due to the dominant performances of South Carolina’s EDGE rushers, Dylan Stewart and Kyle Kennard, he is gaining recognition as the draft approaches. National analysts, including NFL Network’s lead draft expert, Daniel Jeremiah, are starting to take notice of Sanders’ impressive tape.

Jeremiah recently released his updated NFL Mock Draft, where he has Sanders going 31st overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. Regarding the potential selection, Jeremiah commented:

“There has not been a lot of buzz for Sanders, but I thought his tape was outstanding. He’s really twitchy and would fit right in with the bevy of talented defensive linemen in Philly.”

T.J. Sanders’ accolades include:

• 2024 Third-Team All-America (College Football Nation)
• 2024 First-Team All-SEC (College Football Nation)
• 2024 Second-Team All-SEC (AP, Phil Steele)
• 2024 SEC Interior Defender of the Year (College Football Nation)
• 2023 Third-Team All-SEC (College Football Network)
• 2023 Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
• 2023 Nutrition Award
• 2023 Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring
• 2023 co-South Carolina Spirit Award – Defense

South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley has emphasized that familiarity with their opponents can be a significant advantage, particularly when facing a powerhouse like the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies. Drawing from her extensive experience coaching the Gamecocks since 2008, Staley believes that understanding an opponent’s style and strategies is crucial for success.

In a recent interview, Staley stated, “These games allow you to see where you are and also to bank in case in the NCAA tournament you have to play a team like UConn. Win or lose, you have some familiarity.” This perspective underscores her approach to high-stakes matchups, viewing them as opportunities to assess her team’s readiness and to prepare for potential postseason encounters.

The South Carolina Gamecocks and the UConn Huskies have a storied history, with both programs consistently ranking among the top in women’s college basketball. Their matchups are often highly anticipated, drawing significant attention from fans and media alike. Staley’s emphasis on familiarity highlights the importance of strategic preparation and understanding the nuances of UConn’s gameplay.

By focusing on the intricacies of their opponents, Staley aims to equip her team with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete at the highest level. This approach reflects her commitment to excellence and her dedication to ensuring that the Gamecocks are always prepared for the challenges posed by elite teams like UConn.

In summary, Dawn Staley’s emphasis on familiarity with opponents, particularly UConn, reflects her strategic mindset and commitment to preparing the South Carolina Gamecocks for success in high-profile matchups. By leveraging her extensive experience and understanding of the game, Staley continues to position her team as a formidable force in women’s college basketball.

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First-Round Projections Have South Carolina DT T.J. Sanders As a Top NFL Draft Pick

The 2025 NFL Draft process is in full swing, and former South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders is now considered a potential first-round pick.

Although Sanders might have flown under the radar this season due to the dominant performances of South Carolina’s EDGE rushers, Dylan Stewart and Kyle Kennard, he is gaining recognition as the draft approaches. National analysts, including NFL Network’s lead draft expert, Daniel Jeremiah, are starting to take notice of Sanders’ impressive tape.

Jeremiah recently released his updated NFL Mock Draft, where he has Sanders going 31st overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. Regarding the potential selection, Jeremiah commented:

“There has not been a lot of buzz for Sanders, but I thought his tape was outstanding. He’s really twitchy and would fit right in with the bevy of talented defensive linemen in Philly.”

T.J. Sanders’ accolades include:

• 2024 Third-Team All-America (College Football Nation)
• 2024 First-Team All-SEC (College Football Nation)
• 2024 Second-Team All-SEC (AP, Phil Steele)
• 2024 SEC Interior Defender of the Year (College Football Nation)
• 2023 Third-Team All-SEC (College Football Network)
• 2023 Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
• 2023 Nutrition Award
• 2023 Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring
• 2023 co-South Carolina Spirit Award – Defense

In a live report from Columbia, South Carolina, Head Coach Dawn Staley made it clear that the Gamecocks haven’t been looking past their current opponents, despite the upcoming highly anticipated matchup with No. 7 UConn this Sunday.

Asked about the looming contest, Staley shared her thoughts postgame on Thursday. Despite the excitement surrounding the clash with the Huskies, she emphasized that her team has stayed focused on the present. “No,” Staley replied when asked if her team was looking ahead. “I mean, I think this team stays in the moment. I know they know we play UConn on Sunday. You can’t — you can’t get around it.”

South Carolina and UConn, two heavyweights in women’s college basketball, have met 13 times during Staley’s tenure. UConn holds a slight advantage with an 8-5 series lead, but the Gamecocks have been dominant in recent years, boasting a 5-1 record against the Huskies since 2020. Most of these matchups have taken place in the regular season, with two coming later in postseason play. In the 2018 season, UConn defeated South Carolina twice, including a blowout in the Elite Eight. However, in 2021 and 2022, the Gamecocks turned the tide, with two double-digit victories, including one in the NCAA National Championship game.

But this season, both teams have faced setbacks. UConn suffered a tough road loss at Tennessee last week, falling 80-76 for their third loss of the season. Meanwhile, South Carolina responded to their own second defeat of the season, a loss to Texas, with a dominant 38-point win over Florida just days ago.

Staley acknowledged the challenge of balancing the Florida game with the looming UConn contest. “Like, it almost – we didn’t skip over this game but, you know, a lot of people have just moved on to, like, UConn,” she said. “This league is unforgiving. Like, we didn’t take Florida lightly. Florida scores a lot of points, and we were very mindful of that. We wanted to make sure that they aren’t scoring 80 and 90 points like they have against some other teams.”

As Sunday approaches, all eyes will be on Columbia, where the Gamecocks and Huskies will clash. One team will emerge from the contest without a second loss in February, setting the stage for an epic showdown.