Dawn Staley has built a powerhouse at South Carolina, claiming two national championships in her tenure as head coach of the Gamecocks’ women’s basketball program. Now, as the current title holders get ready to open the season, she’s pushing her players even harder.
“I think this team is one that wants to win again,” Staley told the media during a press availability on Friday, adorned in her beloved Philadelphia Phillies jersey. “I just think this team has the potential to be better,” referencing last year’s squad.
If the veteran head coach is correct, that’s a scary thought for the rest of women’s basketball as the Gamecocks are coming off a 36-2 campaign, which included an SEC regular season crown: USC’s sixth in the last nine years, and a win over UConn for the national title. Carolina also returns the unanimous national “Player of the Year” in Aliyah Boston, along with key contributors Brea Beal, Zia Cooke, Victaria Saxton, and Laeticia Amihere.
USC, which obliterated Benedict 123-32 in an exhibition on Halloween night, opens the brand-new season this coming Monday at home versus East Tennessee State.
I was in attendance at the SC/ Benedict game on Halloween night and as I sit there watching I was in awe of what I was witnessing because even though they were playing a division 2 team, Every player that entered the game was a threat offensively and defensively and I remember saying this team is scary good. The teams that’s on their schedule are going to have a hard time preparing for the entire team because their are so many weapons. Yes, I too believe that this team is better than last year’s team. In case you’re wondering, Yes, I’m a diehard season ticket holder of my beloved Gamecock Wbb team.