South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and her Gamecocks were handed a stunning upset on Thursday as the Texas Longhorns edged out a dramatic win in the 2025 Players Era tournament in Las Vegas. In a matchup loaded with intensity and momentum swings, Texas shocked the No. 2 Gamecocks with a 66–64 victory that came down to the wire.
The contest remained tight throughout, and with the score locked at 64–64 in the closing moments, Texas found itself with possession. Longhorns star guard Rori Harmon delivered the dagger — a calm, decisive two-point jumper that put Texas ahead with just 7 seconds left, ultimately sealing the upset.
The defeat sparked immediate reactions online, with emotions running high among South Carolina supporters. One frustrated fan went as far as calling for the removal of the program’s legendary coach, posting:
“Fire dawn Staley”
Other viewers, however, shifted focus to praising Texas and the high-level performance from the Longhorns’ stars, especially Madison Booker.
One fan wrote:
“Hooked ‘em in Vegas🤘Madison Booker is the best player in America and it’s not even close😈💪”
Another applauded the high-pressure moment:
“UNREAL shot!!😱Texas came through in the clutch! What a finish!”
Other reactions included:
“Elite late game shot creation🥶”
“Insane finish! That’s the kind of moment you remember forever.😳🔥🏀”
“Ballin out tonight,” a supporter added.
Texas’ success was fueled by standout performances. Madison Booker finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and one assist, while Jordan Lee poured in 19 points. Justice Carlton contributed 13 more. South Carolina’s offense was led by Joyce Edwards and Ta’Niya Latson, who each scored 16 points. They were supported by Madina Okot (12) and Tessa Johnson (13) — the only other Gamecocks to score in double figures.
The loss marked the Gamecocks’ first defeat of the season, coming just one day after a dominant win over Duke in the Players Era Championship semifinal.
Dawn Staley’s Reaction: Calm, Confident, and Looking Ahead
Despite the narrow defeat, Dawn Staley remained composed and forward-thinking. Speaking after the game, she made it clear that she wasn’t shaken by the result:
“I am not upset at all”
Staley also confirmed that South Carolina will continue participating in the Players Era Tournament, revealing that the Gamecocks will return for the next two years.
Following the Thanksgiving Day loss, South Carolina dropped to 7–1, while Texas pushed its undefeated record to 7–0.
