Dawn Staley Pays Tribute to Departing Gamecock Sakima Walker Amid Transfer to Cal
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley may not have secured a national championship repeat this past season—falling to Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies in the title game—but she continues to show loyalty and pride in her players, even those moving on.
One of the latest roster shake-ups came as center Sakima Walker entered the transfer portal and committed to finish her college basketball career with the California Golden Bears. Despite the move, Staley made it clear there’s no love lost. On Monday, the $12 million net-worth coach (per Celebrity Net Worth) shared a heartfelt Instagram story featuring Walker at the Golden State Valkyries’ 84-57 win over the Seattle Storm, with the caption:
“KALI KIM“
Walker’s Journey: From JUCO Star to Gamecock Champion
Before arriving at South Carolina, Sakima Walker made waves at Northwest Florida State College, where she averaged 16.7 points and 8.2 rebounds, leading her team to the 2023 NJCAA National Championship. Her standout JUCO performance earned her a place on Staley’s stacked Gamecocks roster.
Although she played a limited role off the bench in Columbia, Walker was part of the 2023-24 undefeated national championship team, contributing energy and hustle in practice and games. Over two seasons with South Carolina, she averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in her first year, with her playing time slightly reduced to 1.4 points and 0.7 rebounds across 15 appearances in her final campaign.
Despite limited minutes, Walker embraced her role wholeheartedly. Reflecting on her journey after the national title loss to UConn, she said:
“I don’t feel like that. Absolutely, I’m involved. I just stay ready when my name is called, help my teammates, encourage my teammates, and bring good energy. I wanted to win. I want to keep winning.”
Staley Celebrates Walker’s Graduation and Resilience
Earlier this year, Staley celebrated Walker’s academic achievement on social media, tweeting:
“THE @GamecockWBB GRADUATES! Congrats to @HollywoodRaven @SakimaWalker for finishing the academic race…degree them! I love this part more than anyone will ever know.”
Walker, often part of the scout squad nicknamed “The Highlighters”, was valued behind the scenes for her work ethic and leadership in practice. She now heads to Cal with one year of NCAA eligibility remaining, thanks to a special waiver extended to former JUCO athletes.
As Sakima Walker turns the page to a new chapter with the Golden Bears, Gamecock Nation and Coach Dawn Staley will be watching and cheering her on every step of the way.
