Sheila Foster: The Legend Who Built South Carolina Women’s Basketball and Never Stopped Fighting
Nearly 50 years since she last stepped on the hardwood, Sheila Foster — the first true superstar of South Carolina women’s basketball — still embodies the fire, resilience, and heart that made her a legend. To this day, the smell of a gym and the echo of sneakers on wood still ignite something deep within her.
Foster, who once dominated under the bright lights of Frank McGuire Arena, is affectionately known among Dawn Staley’s players as “The Legend.” Time, injury, and illness have tested her, but her spirit remains unshakable.
That spirit was put to its greatest test on January 10, 2024, when Foster’s car was struck in a devastating crash near her hometown of Boiling Springs, South Carolina.
“I just remember waking up and saying, ‘Thank you, Jesus,’ three times,” Foster recalled. “I couldn’t talk or move. The lady that came to me said, ‘Your bones are hanging out of your foot.’ I woke up two days later with a cast. I didn’t even know what had happened.”
The Heart of a Champion
Foster’s career is immortalized in Gamecock history. Her No. 53 jersey, retired 43 years ago, hangs high above Colonial Life Arena — a symbol of the program’s humble beginnings and its rise to national glory.
Before the names A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston became synonymous with South Carolina basketball dominance, it was Foster who laid the foundation. She was the program’s first multiple-time All-American, finishing her career as the school’s all-time leader in points (2,266), rebounds (1,427), and double-doubles (72) — records that stood for over four decades.
When Wilson and Boston finally broke her marks, Foster’s reaction was nothing but pure joy.
“Records are made to be broken,” she said. “I cheered for them when they broke it — all of them.”
And fans haven’t forgotten her, either. In 2024, The State newspaper asked readers to vote for the “Mount Rushmore” of South Carolina women’s basketball. Out of 14 nominees, including modern icons like Wilson, Boston, and Tiffany Mitchell, Sheila Foster received the highest number of votes.
“It means so much,” Foster said. “It tells me that I’ve got fans and friends who love me. When you’ve got people like that, they don’t forget.”
Building the Foundation of a Dynasty
Foster joined South Carolina in 1978, when the program was still in its infancy. Women’s basketball had only recently gained varsity status following Title IX, and resources were limited.
Under coach Pam Parsons, the Gamecocks quickly transformed into a powerhouse. Parsons brought flair, style, and ambition — replacing the “Carolina Chicks” nickname with “Lady Gamecocks” and moving the team’s games permanently to Carolina Coliseum.
Foster was her first true star recruit. As a freshman, she helped the Gamecocks win the 1979 Women’s National Invitational Tournament, the first major championship in program history. By her sophomore year, the team had reached the AIAW Final Four, defeating national powers like Old Dominion and Tennessee along the way.
Her dominance was unmatched — by the end of her junior year, she had already shattered the program’s scoring record.
But her senior season, 1981–82, was filled with chaos. Coach Parsons resigned amid controversy, and the team’s roster was gutted by departures. Still, Foster and a handful of teammates carried on, finishing the year 22–7 and earning a bid to the first-ever NCAA Women’s Tournament.
In her final game, Foster poured in 23 points and 19 rebounds, cementing her legacy.
“It broke my heart when they wouldn’t let Coach Parsons attend my jersey retirement,” Foster said years later. “But she’ll always have my respect. She helped me become who I am.”
Life After Basketball
With the WNBA still decades away, Foster took her talents overseas, playing six successful seasons in Italy — in Spinea, Naples, and near Milan.
“My contract didn’t say speak the language,” she laughed. “They just wanted me to put the ball in the basket.”
After retiring, she returned home, earned her degree from South Carolina in 1990, and began a new chapter as a teacher and coach at her alma mater, Boiling Springs High School. There, she inspired generations of young players for more than a decade.
“I’m just so proud that I chose the University of South Carolina,” she said. “My blood still runneth garnet. I’ll continue to cheer until I leave this world.”
The Fight of Her Life
Her journey hasn’t been without hardship. In 2014, Foster battled breast cancer and later endured two knee replacements and a serious pneumonia bout in 2020. Then came the car accident in early 2024.
She woke up in the hospital with 13 screws in her foot, broken ribs, and a cracked sternum. Doctors initially wanted to amputate her foot, but her willpower — the same that made her a star athlete — defied the odds.
“My doctor told me every visit, ‘Ms. Foster, all the doctors said amputate that foot. You’re so blessed — your screws haven’t shifted.’”
Through therapy and determination, she recovered enough to walk — with a cane — and even attended the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony just four months after the crash.
“I’m a fighter,” Foster said. “You can’t give up because something happened. When my number is called, I’ll be ready. God’s got me here for a reason.”
A Living Legend
Foster’s presence continues to loom large over South Carolina basketball. She joined the celebrations for both the 2017 and 2022 national championships, proudly waving to thousands of fans during the downtown Columbia parades.
Her iconic jersey has watched from above as the program she helped build has reached historic heights under Dawn Staley, capturing three national titles and becoming the face of women’s college basketball.
“It brings tears to my eyes when I see them play,” Foster said. “I watch Coach Staley and those girls, and it brings back memories. It’s just a joy to be there.”
Now in remission and recovering from her injuries, Foster remains an enduring symbol of strength — not only for the Gamecock community but for anyone who’s ever faced adversity and refused to quit.
As her banner continues to hang in the rafters, she stands as proof that greatness isn’t just about what you achieve, but how fiercely you keep fighting long after the final buzzer.
“I’m still a Lady Gamecock,” she said with a smile. “Always have been, always will be.”
