What Impress Dawn Staley Regarding South Carolina Women’s Basketball Star MiLaysia Fulwiley

Live from Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina: A Remarkable Bounceback Performance by MiLaysia Fulwiley

Following a disheartening 29-point defeat to UConn this past Sunday, MiLaysia Fulwiley was visibly emotional, tears welling in her eyes at Colonial Life Arena. Head coach Dawn Staley noted that Fulwiley was frustrated after the loss, but Thursday night marked a complete turnaround for the No. 6 Gamecocks (24-3, 12-1 SEC), who steamrolled Arkansas 95-55.

With just under four minutes left in the third quarter, Joyce Edwards delivered a precise pass to Fulwiley just as she crossed half court. After a couple of dribbles, Fulwiley executed a smooth behind-the-back move, leaning back into her defender while finishing with a one-handed scoop shot. The basket counted, a foul was called, and Fulwiley cracked a smile as her teammates gathered around for some celebratory chest bumps.

Reflecting on her performance, Fulwiley said, “I just focused on this game, and it helped me go out there and do what I was able to do. I like when I make shots, it makes me happy, so I smile.”

Fulwiley contributed 15 points, four assists, one steal, and no turnovers—her performance marked by a variety of crafty shots that even surprised the 5-foot-10 sophomore guard. “It kind of goes in, and I kind of smirk,” she shared with a laugh.

South Carolina has been resilient in bouncing back after losses this season. Following their defeat to UCLA in November, the Gamecocks quickly responded with a dominant first-quarter performance against Iowa State, leading 19-3. After falling to Texas on February 6, they exploded for a season-high 36 points in the first quarter against Florida.

Thursday’s win, which widened the scoring margin to 39.3 points following a loss, saw Fulwiley come off the bench and ignite the offense, giving the Gamecocks the burst they needed after a slow start. The starters struggled early, passing the ball around the perimeter, but Fulwiley’s dynamic play forced Arkansas (9-19, 2-11) out of their rhythm.

Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors joked postgame, “Must be nice to have her off the bench,” before lauding Fulwiley’s scoring and defensive efforts.

Staley had high praise for her guard’s performance, emphasizing her ability to perform under pressure. “(Fulwiley) has a real good understanding of what needs to happen,” Staley noted. “Her shots were timely, and she didn’t force anything. She was unselfish, and I thought she met the moment.”

One moment that stood out came late in the second quarter when Fulwiley, with 27 seconds remaining and no shot clock, initiated a drive to the basket. But she made a quick decision to pull back, drawing three defenders and dishing out to a wide-open Sania Feagin to close the half.

As Fulwiley sprints down the court, Staley knows something exciting is bound to happen, though she admits sometimes she just has to hope it works out. But the trust is there, despite the unpredictable nature of her shots. “It’s fun to watch her learn and grow,” said Staley, emphasizing Fulwiley’s development.

And now, even when those audacious shots don’t fall, Fulwiley is maturing into a player who can recognize when a pass might be the better option—something she wasn’t always quick to do last season.

Staley concluded, “She’s defending, competing on the other side of the floor… she’s growing, she’s learning.”

As South Carolina marches forward in their SEC campaign, it’s clear that MiLaysia Fulwiley’s resilience and growth are crucial to their success.