Dawn Staley Wears Her Philly Pride Courtside — Even in Gamecock Country
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has never been one to shy away from expressing her roots, and her deep love for the Philadelphia Eagles remains on full display—even when she’s coaching in Columbia.
The Gamecocks legend and Philly native opened up about her Eagles fandom during a candid conversation on the “Not Gonna Lie” podcast, hosted by Kylie Kelce, wife of Eagles icon Jason Kelce. The episode was posted to YouTube on Friday and covered everything from sports loyalty to major coaching milestones.
“I tell people down here… I work here. I’m not from here,” Staley said with a chuckle (Timestamp 14:33). “Like, I’m from Philly. I mean, I rock jerseys. I wear them courtside.”
Staley, a three-time NCAA national champion coach and six-time WNBA All-Star, has made a name for herself building the South Carolina women’s basketball program into a powerhouse. But when it comes to football, her heart belongs to the Eagles. Whether it’s a big game day or even the night of Super Bowl 59, she proudly wears her Eagles gear courtside—even if it ruffles a few feathers in Columbia.
“I do wear the school colors. But also, when we’re going as far as we’re going, when we win Super Bowls, you’re going to see me in some Eagles gear,” she said (Timestamp 15:05).
South Carolina fans have taken note, and some have questioned her loyalty online. But Staley has no plans to tone it down. Her pride in Philadelphia runs deep—and so does her admiration for Jalen Hurts, her favorite player on the team.
In fact, she revealed that her connection to Hurts came through Duce Staley, a former Eagles coach and mutual friend. She occasionally texts Hurts with words of encouragement, especially during high-pressure moments.
“He’s QB1. When we lose, the city goes crazy,” Staley explained. “I just text him, ‘Don’t get too high with the highs or low with the lows.’ He’s the coolest cat I know.”
The podcast also touched on Staley’s induction into the FIBA Hall of Fame, her thoughts on the WNBA, the growth of the women’s game, and rising stars like Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever.
Recruiting Update: Gamecocks Miss Out on Five-Star Wing Savvy Swords
In recruiting news, South Carolina’s women’s basketball program suffered a blow when five-star Canadian standout Savvy Swords committed to Kentucky for the 2026-27 season.
The 6-foot-1 wing out of Long Island Lutheran was one of the most coveted players in the Class of 2026, ranked No. 9 by On3. South Carolina had been in contention alongside UCLA, Notre Dame, and Michigan, but Kenny Brooks’ Wildcats sealed the deal.
Swords is the younger sister of Michigan guard Syla Swords, and becomes Kentucky’s second five-star commit in the 2026 class, joining point guard Maddyn Greenway.
As of now, the Gamecocks have yet to secure a commitment from the 2026 recruiting class. This comes after they landed five-star small forwards Ayla McDowell and Agot Makeer in the previous cycle.
With Dawn Staley still at the helm and one of the sharpest recruiters in the game, fans can expect South Carolina to remain aggressive in the hunt for elite talent—even if the early race hasn’t gone their way.
