UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - DECEMBER 10: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks watches the game against the Utah Utes at Mohegan Sun Arena on December 10, 2023 in Uncasville, Connecticut. G Fiume/Getty Images South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley treats the local media a bit differently than other head coaches.  She gives special access to local reporters and will always have time to answer their questions. “She will always make time for whoever’s asking for a piece of her time. Even though these days, there are more and more people who are asking ..read more

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 05: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks with the media after beating the NC State Wolfpack 78-59 the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) Mike Lawrie/Getty Images South Carolina received a bright spotlight when winning the women's basketball national championship. Yet Dawn Staley continued to cultivate close ties to local journalists.   David Cloninger has covered South Carolina throughout Staley's 16 ..read more

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 04: AP Coach of the Year Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks and AP Player of the Year Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes speak during the award press conference ahead of the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 04, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Gregory Shamus/Getty Images South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has had only nice things to say about Caitlin Clark before and after her team beat Clark's Hawkeyes for the national title. But what she said about Clark thi ..read more

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 05: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks with the media after beating the NC State Wolfpack 78-59 the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) Mike Lawrie/Getty Images Dawn Staley is celebrating South Carolina's latest national championship with a little Eurotrip. On Wednesday afternoon, Staley posted video of herself in Paris at the Paris Saint-Germain-Barcelona Champions League match.  Needless to say, t ..read more

AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns watches players warm up before the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Tim Warner/Getty Images Dawn Staley's success at South Carolina appears to be extending well past women's basketball. After receiving a shoutout from Deion Sanders, Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian is reportedly taking inspiration from her success in the SEC. "I watched both games. I watched both tourna ..read more

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes shoots a three point basket over Bree Hall #23 of the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half during the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 07, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Sunday's women's national championship game between Iowa and South Carolina shattered several viewership records, registering 18.7 million viewers on average with a max of 24 million. After the numbers were announced, Ca ..read more

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 27: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after defeating the Maryland Terrapins 86-75 in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 27, 2023 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images The 2024 NCAA women's tournament ended with another ratings record. ESPN reported that 18.7 million average viewers saw South Carolina win the national title with an 87-75 victory over Iowa. It exceeded the Hawkeyes' previ ..read more

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 7: Te-Hina Paopao #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 at the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament championship game between Iowa and South Carolina at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 7, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/ISI Photos/Getty Images) Thien-An Truong/ISI Photos/Getty Images South Carolina and Iowa closed an electric NCAA women's tournament with another ratings record. According to ESPN, a resounding 18.7 million average viewers watched the Gamecocks finish an undefeated season with a ..read more

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT - DECEMBER 10: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks watches the game against the Utah Utes at Mohegan Sun Arena on December 10, 2023 in Uncasville, Connecticut. G Fiume/Getty Images Sunday was a historic afternoon in more ways than one for South Carolina's Dawn Staley. Not only did she complete the first undefeated women's basketball season in the history of the Gamecocks' program and collect her third national title, but she also set a new mark for Black coaches in college sports. With this weekend's victory, Staley became the first Black head ..read more

BOULDER, COLORADO - APRIL 22: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team warms up prior to their spring game at Folsom Field on April 22, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) Matthew Stockman/Getty Images From one GOAT to another Deion Sanders had some high praise for South Carolina's Dawn Staley after the Gamecocks capped their undefeated season with a national title on Sunday. Taking to social media that night, the Hall of Famer turned college football coach said: "God Bless Coach @dawnstaley. You are our SHERO!!!! Love ..read more