Dawn Staley Reflects on Dominant Win Over Grand Canyon, Player Growth, and South Carolina’s Return to Paris
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Following South Carolina’s commanding 94–54 season-opening win over Grand Canyon, head coach Dawn Staley addressed the media to share updates on injuries, player development, and her team’s early-season chemistry.
On Maddy McDaniel’s Injury
“I think she got kneed in her knee,” Staley said. “She won’t practice tomorrow, but nobody will — we’re off. Maddy’s tough. She heals up fast, so I’m not too worried.”
On Guard Play: Latson, Raven Johnson, and Tessa Johnson
Staley praised her veteran guards for their efficient play.
“They’re our most experienced guards, so you kind of expect that,” she said. “What impressed me was how efficient they were — attacking the basket, finishing at the rim, not just settling for jump shots. They practice like it’s game time, so when it’s game time, it’s just rhythm.”
On the Chemistry Between Latson and Raven Johnson
“With four new players and seven who haven’t played many minutes, that instant chemistry helps,” Staley explained. “They’ve played together in high school and AAU, and that connection is something we can build on. It’ll take time for the rest of the team to find that rhythm — especially on defense. But we’ll figure it out as we go. Games will have to be our teachers this year.”
On Using a Four-Guard Lineup
“I haven’t practiced it — we just did it because of matchups and foul trouble,” Staley admitted. “It was fine. We’ll need to do it again because teams will play small on us. I thought Ayla (McDowell) was great — fighting, rebounding, giving multiple efforts. Some others need to take a page from her book.”
On Defensive Discipline
“I thought our ball-screen defense was cleaner early than it was against UNC,” Staley said. “But we lost discipline. We started switching when we weren’t supposed to — I don’t even know where they got that from. It’s not who we are. That was undisciplined basketball, and we’ve got to clean it up.”
Despite the lapses, she noted, “Luckily, we can put points on the board — but we can’t rely on scoring 90 every night.”
On Balancing Guard and Post Play
“We need both,” she stressed. “Joyce (Edwards) will do her thing, but we need Madina (Okot) and Adhel (Tac) to step up. Maryam (Dauda), too. Madina has to be dominant — we don’t go far if she isn’t contributing more. It’ll take time, but we’ll push her to get there.”
On Offensive Adjustments
When Grand Canyon packed the paint, Staley was pleased with how her team responded.
“We’ve got experienced guards who can adapt. We told them, ‘Stay locked, stay loaded, and shoot in rhythm,’ and that’s exactly what they did.”
On Returning to Paris in 2026
Staley smiled when asked about next year’s season opener in Paris.
“It was a great trip — memorable for our players and fans. It felt like a home game,” she said. “And now, we’ve got a French player to take home. It’s part of recruiting. And yes, we won a title after that last trip.”
On Facing Former Assistant Winston Gandy
“I think Winston’s done a great job,” Staley said of the first-year Grand Canyon coach. “He’s rebuilt that roster fast and came here to compete. Maybe he thought it’d be closer — maybe he thought he could win — and that’s the mindset you need. Family or not, when they come here, we want to win. It’ll be cool when Fred (Chmiel) brings Bowling Green here, and hopefully, same result.”
On Tessa Johnson’s Growth
“Tessa’s been building toward this for two years,” Staley said. “She didn’t like how her sophomore season went, but she owned it. She’s serious now — puts in the work before, after, and outside practice. That’s what a junior year should look like.
“When players understand their process, it’s not us moving the needle — it’s them. And Tessa’s right where she needs to be.”
South Carolina’s combination of veteran guards, emerging post players, and elite chemistry has Staley optimistic — but focused.
“We can score,” she said, “but now we’ve got to defend like champions.”
