Dawn Staley Reunites with Former Gamecocks Stars at WNBA Showdown in Chase Center
Dawn Staley, one of the most decorated and respected coaches in women’s college basketball, made a special appearance at Chase Center on Sunday to support her former players now thriving in the WNBA.
Since taking the reins of South Carolina’s women’s basketball program in 2008, Staley has built a dynasty. Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have captured three NCAA national championships — in 2017, 2022, and 2024. Most recently, her 2024 squad completed a perfect season, further solidifying her legacy as one of the sport’s greats.
Her visit to Chase Center offered a heartwarming reunion with Laeticia Amihere, Bree Hall, and Zia Cooke, three standout Gamecocks who played pivotal roles in South Carolina’s championship runs. All three were part of the 2022 title-winning team, and Hall added a second ring in 2024 before being selected in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft.
In Sunday’s matchup, their current team, the Golden State Valkyries, faced off against the Seattle Storm and secured a commanding 84-57 victory. Amihere made a notable impact off the bench, scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in just 18 minutes. Despite being an expansion franchise in its debut season, the Valkyries now boast a 9-7 record — an impressive feat for a new team.
Cooke, a dynamic guard, earned recognition in college as the 2023 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award winner and was a First-Team All-SEC honoree in both 2021 and 2023.
Beyond college success, Staley’s influence stretches into international basketball. She coached Team USA to gold medals at the 2018 FIBA World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics, while also capturing three Olympic golds as a player during her legendary run as a star point guard at Virginia in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Seeing her former players flourish in the professional ranks is yet another testament to Dawn Staley’s exceptional impact on the game — both on and off the court.
