Dawn Staley Praises Former Gamecocks After Dominant WNBA Father’s Day Performance
South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley has long been at the helm of one of the most dominant programs in the sport. As she prepares to guide the Gamecocks back into national championship contention, Staley is keeping a close eye on her former players thriving in the WNBA.
Two of her standout alumni, Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao, delivered impressive performances on Father’s Day, leading the Atlanta Dream to a commanding 89–56 victory over the Washington Mystics.
Following the win, Staley gave a heartfelt shoutout to her former stars on social media.
“Shout out to @GamecockWBB own @Graytness_15 @tehinapaopaoo showing out with career high in points for their daddies on Father’s Day,” Staley posted. “Com going to have to save this post bc I know it’s going to happen again!”
Paopao contributed a solid all-around game, finishing with 16 points, five assists, and one rebound, while Gray exploded for 32 points, along with five rebounds and four assists, putting on a show for Dream fans and making the day even more special.
Staley’s pride in her former players reflects the culture of excellence she’s built since arriving at South Carolina in 2008. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have captured three national championships, made seven Final Four appearances, and secured nine SEC regular-season and nine SEC Tournament titles.
As she looks ahead to the 2025–26 season, Staley remains focused on returning her current team to the pinnacle of college basketball, with a fire fueled by the heartbreak of their recent national title game loss.
