South Carolina Dominates Florida, Coach Dawn Staley Talks Strategy, Leadership, and Transition Play
In the wake of a resounding 101-63 victory over Florida, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley addressed the media, breaking down the game and discussing key moments. Here’s what she had to say:
On the decision to go with a four-guard lineup featuring Joyce Edwards, Staley shared: “Foul trouble made us do it, but it might be a lineup we have to use if teams go small on us. We’re getting some practice with it. Today was specifically because of Sania Feagin and Chloe Kitts in foul trouble.”
Te-Hina Paopao’s leadership was a major talking point after the game. Following the Texas loss, Paopao had vowed to be a better leader. Staley reflected: “Paopao is a winner. She’s lost only two games here at South Carolina, and they didn’t feel good. This is her last go-round, and she’s giving it her all. She felt like her leadership and scoring were needed today, and it was good to see her get those three-pointers to fall.”
Paopao’s early impact was undeniable, as she opened the scoring and either scored or assisted on 12 of the next 14 points. Staley emphasized how Paopao changes the dynamic: “She’s an elevator. When she hits a three, it lets us exhale. We want her to have the ball in her hands, making plays and putting up points, especially from beyond the arc. She took more of an effort to playmake today, and we needed that.”
After the tough Texas loss, South Carolina came out firing in the first quarter. When asked about the quick response, Staley said: “We respond when we need to. We dissect our wins and losses because if we play poorly even in a win, it could hurt us later. We just wanted to get back to playing our style of basketball.”
The performance of Joyce Edwards was another focal point of the game. Staley expressed admiration for Edwards’ work ethic and determination: “Joyce is exactly who we thought she was. She works hard, studies hard, and wants to be the best at everything. I’m not surprised by her rise. Would we have expected her to step into this role from the start? No, but she’s earned it through her preparation.”
Discussing Edwards’ development, Staley added: “She’s got to loosen up. Sometimes preparation doesn’t match what happens in the game, and she has to adjust. She’s great at watching film and knows where she can improve.”
Staley also drew a parallel between Edwards and former player Aliyah Boston: “They’re wired similarly – they both study hard but sometimes struggle to play to their habits. We have to be ready for that.”
The fast-paced play that saw South Carolina excel in transition was another key takeaway. “We pushed the ball, and I thought Maddy McDaniel did a great job with outlet passes. If we don’t capitalize in transition, we’re putting pressure on our half-court offense, so it’s crucial to score quickly. It frees us up and makes us more motivated on defense.”
Looking ahead, South Carolina faces UConn on Sunday, a matchup that has the team’s full attention. Staley was quick to remind: “We didn’t take Florida lightly. We know UConn is next, but the league is unforgiving. We didn’t skip over Florida, and we won’t take UConn lightly either.”
