Winston Gandy Reflects on Return to South Carolina After Grand Canyon’s 94–54 Loss
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Grand Canyon head coach Winston Gandy made an emotional return to Colonial Life Arena on Monday night, receiving his Final Four and SEC Championship rings before facing his former team, the South Carolina Gamecocks, in his head coaching debut. The night, however, ended in a humbling 94–54 loss to the defending national champions.
Gandy, who served as an assistant under Dawn Staley from 2023–2025, spoke with the media after the game — reflecting on the result, his return to Columbia, and what lies ahead for his new program.
Opening Statement
“Well, I finally got to see what so many teams have experienced here over the last two years,” Gandy began. “First, I want to send prayers to Maddy (McDaniel). I hope it’s nothing too serious — you never want to see anyone go down, no matter the team.”
He continued, “They came out hot from three, and that’s the risk you take with a team like South Carolina. You’ve got to pick your poison. Dawn’s built something where you’re completely at their mercy — balanced scoring, smart passing, and a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. That’s almost impossible to beat.”
Despite the lopsided score, Gandy said he was “proud” of his players for continuing to compete. “The game got away before halftime, but we stayed engaged. You’ve got to experience what greatness looks like to understand what it takes to reach that level,” he said. “We’re nowhere near that yet, but this was a valuable learning experience.”
On GCU’s 34 Three-Point Attempts
Asked whether the Antelopes’ 34 three-point attempts reflected their offensive identity, Gandy replied, “I hope not. Probably about 10 of those were ill-advised. But against a great defensive team, the paint is tough to attack. You’ve got to adapt and take the open looks when you get them — just make sure they’re good ones.”
On Returning to Columbia
Gandy admitted that returning to the arena where he helped South Carolina reach the pinnacle of college basketball was “a little weird.”
“I even walked into the wrong locker room at first — one door off,” he laughed. “But this place means a lot to me. Dawn hasn’t just built a program; she’s built a community. It was great seeing familiar faces and players I worked with. It’s bittersweet — hard to be on the other sideline — but rewarding to see their growth.”
On Balancing Emotions This Week
Asked whether his emotional homecoming distracted from preparation, Gandy smiled. “Well, seeing as we got beat by 40, that’s fair,” he joked. “But honestly, no. Dawn always preached keeping the main thing the main thing. No matter the arena or the outside noise, the game is the game. That’s what I tried to model this week.”
On Raven Johnson’s Impact
Having coached Raven Johnson for two years, Gandy praised her as “a true winner.”
“You can’t shut her down,” he said. “She impacts the game in every way. People focus on stats, but she’s the type of point guard every championship team needs. Her vision, pace, and leadership — she’s the best in the business. Everyone would love to have a Raven.”
On South Carolina’s Loaded Roster
When asked about defending a lineup that includes Johnson, Tessa Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, and Joyce Edwards, Gandy shook his head.
“You can’t sleep on any of them,” he said. “Joyce and Madina (Okot) form one of the best frontcourts in the country. Then you surround them with guards who can score from anywhere. Every time they took an open shot, I just thought, ‘Oh goodness.’ But you can only respect it — the best players make plays.”
On His Team’s Fight
Despite the loss, Gandy praised the resilience of players like Chloe Mann, who had two four-point plays, and Ale’jah Douglas, who battled to the end.
“That’s what you want to see — heart and fight,” he said. “We won’t play a team better than this all season, so this was a great measuring stick. Our players didn’t look overwhelmed, and that’s encouraging.”
On Evaluating His First Game as Head Coach
Reflecting on his coaching debut, Gandy was both humble and optimistic.
“You learn patience,” he said. “Dawn’s standard never changes — that’s what separates her. Sustaining excellence takes time. You can’t skip steps. My job is to give these players grace as they grow and learn. Nobody’s trying to fail on purpose.”
For Gandy, Monday night wasn’t just about the final score — it was about perspective.
“You’ve got to start somewhere,” he said. “And to start against the golden standard of women’s basketball? That’s something we’ll build on.”
