South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has had anything but a quiet offseason following the Gamecocks’ national championship loss to UConn back in April. Since then, the legendary coach has been on the move — diving back into practice with her new squad in May, keeping a close eye on her WNBA alumni, and even offering her championship insights to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
This past Friday, the Panthers welcomed the $12 million coach (according to Celebrity Net Worth) into their facility, where she took part in a team meeting, dished out championship wisdom, and even showed off her basketball skills by sinking shots on the team’s indoor court. She mingled with the players and was presented with a signed No. 9 jersey from quarterback Bryce Young, a former Alabama standout.
The Panthers posted a clip of the moment, captioning it:
“Dawn Staley stopped by the stadium today.”
While Staley offered advice to the Panthers, she’s still a Philadelphia Eagles loyalist. Born in Philly, she’s a regular at Eagles games and often sports their jerseys during South Carolina’s basketball matchups.
Praise from Panthers CB Jaycee Horn
Among those who were impressed by Staley’s visit was cornerback Jaycee Horn. After the meeting, Horn couldn’t help but acknowledge the impact Staley has made on the Gamecocks program.
“That was special,” Horn said. “She created a powerhouse at South Carolina, just the culture they created and how serious they were.”
Horn has a unique connection to Staley’s legacy — his girlfriend, Brea Beal, was a key member of Staley’s 2022 national championship team and later became the No. 24 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx.
“I’ve heard my girlfriend talk about it, just the standard she talked about that she held them to,” Horn continued. “It’s contagious, and I feel like that’s why they’re so dominant as a program. Yeah, she’s got some swag to her for sure.”
Following her stop with the Panthers, Staley is shifting focus again — this time to Columbia, where she’ll host a back-to-school block party next week. She’s also been active in the transfer portal, working to reload the Gamecocks’ roster and make another title run after falling just short in April.
