Dawn Staley Uses South Carolina’s Platform to Elevate HBCU Programs
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley is once again leveraging her program’s national stage to highlight and uplift HBCUs.
This season, the Gamecocks will take on Coppin State and North Carolina Central, both members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Unlike most powerhouse teams that rarely agree to true road games against mid-major opponents, South Carolina will travel to Baltimore to face North Carolina Central — a choice Staley says is deliberate.
“Instead of the big competitive games, we’ve added some HBCUs, just to lift up every aspect of our sport,” Staley told The State. “Not every team will go and play an HBCU on their home court. And we feel like it’s a great game, great competition, great coaching. And if we can lift, because we play the game and get some notoriety to the HBCUs, then we’ll do that.”
The Gamecocks played Coppin State last season, and scheduling another HBCU opponent this year reinforces Staley’s consistent effort to give visibility to programs that often operate outside the national spotlight. For her, the decision is about respect, recognition, and growth, not just competition.
The initiative comes at a moment when discussions about equity and visibility for HBCUs are growing louder across sports. By agreeing to face these teams — and particularly by going on the road — Staley is making a powerful statement of support.
For athletes at Coppin State and North Carolina Central, the chance to host one of women’s basketball’s premier programs brings a valuable opportunity for exposure, revenue, and recognition.
For Staley, the bigger picture is ensuring that women’s basketball thrives beyond its most recognizable programs and names.
