Dawn Staley Reacts to Gamecocks’ No. 1 Seed, Kentucky Win, and Future of Key Players
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley addressed the media following the Gamecocks’ 78-66 victory over Kentucky, discussing everything from the controversial SEC Tournament coin flip to the standout performances of Tessa Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley.
On Winning the SEC Coin Flip for the No. 1 Seed
Staley admitted the moment was nerve-wracking but ultimately exciting.
“We just watched it in the locker room. I mean, it was kind of exciting, and the buildup was good. But when you’re part of the equation, it doesn’t feel good to have your fate in a coin toss.”
She was also surprised to learn that eight other sports use the same tiebreaker.
“That was news to me. I feel a little better about it now.”
On Kenny Brooks’ Impact at Kentucky
Staley praised Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks for his work in building a strong program.
“He’s got a really talented squad. They’ve got chemistry, they work well together, and they’ve got a really good point guard. When you have a leader like that, you’re going to win a lot of basketball games.”
She acknowledged how difficult SEC basketball has become, crediting Brooks for raising the level of competition.
“It’s not easy. It’s only getting harder and harder to win basketball games in our league.”
On Tessa Johnson’s Breakout Performance
Johnson’s impact went beyond her scoring, according to Staley.
“You could tell Tessa’s been ramping up to a performance like tonight. I know we’re talking about her points, and we needed them – but her defense was on point.”
Staley highlighted Johnson and Fulwiley’s defensive intensity, which helped shift momentum late in the game.
“They were doing so well on both sides of the ball that we just let them finish the game.”
On South Carolina’s Fourth-Quarter Surge
Staley credited MiLaysia Fulwiley’s key basket for sparking the team’s defensive intensity.
“Lay scored an easy bucket, driving the baseline, that gave us a three-point lead. It’s unfortunate that offense is sparking our defense, but the lock-in by Tessa, the deflections, diving on the ball – those were key.”
She also praised Te-Hina Paopao for her defensive effort.
“I told Pao it’s the first time in her career she had more steals than threes. She was in the passing lanes, Lay was in the passing lanes, and we just made it difficult.”
On What It Takes to Win the SEC Tournament
With one of the toughest SEC tournaments ahead, Staley emphasized the importance of depth, ball security, and rebounding.
“You need depth in this tournament to win it. You need to take care of the basketball, you need to rebound, and you need to take good shots.”
She also noted that Texas and Oklahoma’s arrival in the conference adds a new level of competition.
“This year, we have two teams we didn’t have to deal with last year – Texas and Oklahoma. They’ve had an impact on the regular season and will in the tournament too.”
On Sending Off This Year’s Senior Class with an SEC Title
Staley reflected on the special bond between this year’s senior class and the Gamecock faithful.
“To hear the crowd pour into our players – and specifically, our seniors – means there’s a really great relationship between the two.”
She credited the fans and talented players for sustaining the team’s winning culture.
“We can’t win without our FAMs creating this atmosphere, and we can’t win without talented players committed to the process.”
On How the Late Scoring Run Prepares the Team for the Postseason
Staley believes the trust built in those final minutes will pay off in the postseason.
“Tessa and Lay were in at the end of the game, and that’s going to help them. There was a lot of trust built out there in the last seven minutes. It’s going to sharpen us for late-game situations.”
On Raven Johnson’s Future
With fans chanting “One more year!” for Johnson, Staley said the decision remains up to her star guard.
“She hasn’t made a decision. For me, it’s a personal choice, so I’m not going to push her either way. We’re going to let her and her family decide.”
Regardless of when she leaves, Staley knows Johnson is destined for success.
“Raven makes us a better basketball team. She’s a winner. If she comes back, it increases our chances of winning. If she doesn’t, the WNBA will welcome her – probably not as well as we would if she came back.”
On the Importance of Clutch Shots Late in the Game
Staley praised Te-Hina Paopao’s leadership in crunch time.
“When we needed a bucket, I wanted the ball in Pao’s hands. She made the right calls, and she knew what was needed. We leaned on her leadership and playmaking ability.”
On the Future of Raven Johnson and Sakima Walker
Staley confirmed that no decisions have been made, but hopes for clarity soon.
“Hopefully, they’ll make a decision in a timely fashion so we know what we need when the transfer portal opens up.”
She added that the team has room for both players to return but won’t pressure them.
“We’re going to let them decide on their own accord. If they come back after we’ve already been in the portal, we’ll just have more on the roster than we probably would like.”
With the SEC Tournament approaching, South Carolina looks locked in for another deep postseason run, and Dawn Staley’s squad is prepared for whatever challenges come next.
