Dawn Staley Previews South Carolina’s Matchup Against Vanderbilt
COLUMBIA, S.C. — With a crucial SEC showdown against Vanderbilt on the horizon, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley addressed the media on Friday, sharing insights into the team’s preparation, defensive strategy, and the importance of maintaining momentum. Here’s a breakdown of what she had to say.
On the keys to stopping Vanderbilt’s offense
“To defend. We have to play our defense. We have to be disciplined. They’ve got really, really great scorers that we have to disrupt and limit—fewer clean looks, fewer free throws. That’s the focus. It’s not rocket science—it’s our will against their will.”
On containing Mikayla Blakes
“It’s hard to stop a player with the greenest of green lights. She’s fearless—doesn’t worry about missed shots or turnovers. The key is making things difficult, controlling what we can—avoiding fouls, limiting clean looks. We just want to force her into inefficient basketball.”
On the team’s energy after bouncing back against Arkansas
“It’s good. We’re focused. We’re not perfect, but we’re locked in. When we have this level of focus, we’re disciplined on both ends and play cleaner basketball. It’s obvious on both sides of the ball.”
On South Carolina’s defense fueling its offense
“When you create points off defense, it makes everything easier. It puts teams back on their heels, eases the pressure on our half-court offense, and makes us even more locked in defensively. Easy baskets are a great feeling.”
On announcing her new book, Uncommon Favor
“One, I got tired of people asking. Two, I had to do it before I forgot everything. Three, last season made me so thankful for what I call an ‘uncommon favor’ career. It felt right to put it all in context and share it.”
On where writing a book ranks among her achievements
“Not at the top. It’s mentally exhausting—I don’t like feeling that way. I like being exhausted from a win. Writing a book forces you to think hard about everything—people, moments. But the good stuff is in there—the things that shaped me, from growing up in North Philly to my mother’s influence to my successes. It all connects.”
On how a strong game against Arkansas can boost Maryam Dauda’s confidence
“For me, it showed she can calm down and play focused basketball. She’s tough—rebounds, defends, stretches the floor. The game where she should’ve had the most nerves? She looked the most calm all season. We gave her her flowers in film today, and I hope she bottles that up and brings it again.”
On the impact of Bree Hall taking more shots
“It helps us tremendously to have a fourth or fifth scorer. Breezy’s (Bree Hall) greatest gift is her ability to catch and shoot efficiently. She’s improving in reading defenses off screens. But most importantly, she needs to be definitive—if you want to shoot, shoot. If you want to come off a screen and pass, let the defense dictate. An aggressive Breezy Hall is the best version of Breezy Hall.”
With South Carolina looking to build on their momentum, Staley’s squad is focused and ready for the challenge ahead. Stay tuned as the Gamecocks take the floor against Vanderbilt.
