Tag: Cheyney State

Dawn Staley pays tribute to history-making HBCU with outfit

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley never misses an opportunity to respect the culture and educate on the history of Black women in basketball.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley never misses an opportunity to respect the culture and educate on the history of Black women in basketball.

In her second-round game against South Florida in the 2023 March Madness Women’s NCAA Division I tournament, Staley wore Louis Vuitton pants and a Cheyney State jersey.

Cheyney State is an HBCU that played in the first Division 1 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship tournament which took place in 1982. Not only did they play, but they also made it to the championship game. Cheyney State was and remains, the only HBCU to make it to the championship game and to the Final Four.

Cheyney State made it back to the tournament and won one game in 1983 and three games to advance to the Final Four in 1984.

Staley honored Cheyney State and her former coach, Yolanda Laney, by wearing Laney’s number and replica jersey. Laney led Cheyney State to the championship game back in 1982.

Staley’s outfit always turn heads because her style is impeccable, but this outfit has more behind it than a fancy label. The history it elicits is strong and important. Staley’s team played HBCU Norfolk State in the first round and beat them decisively. But, Staley took the time to go to the locker room and speak to the players and motivate them to keep pushing forward.

While Norfolk State lost to the Gamecocks, the ripple effect of playing in a game like this against the No. 1 seed was not lost on their coach or the media.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp6XakaPKDr/

Staley is constantly pushing the game forward and making sure she lifts others up along the way.

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HBCU March Madness Women’s NCAA Championship History

A look at how HBCU’s performed in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

The first Division 1 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship tournament took place in 1982. The matchup was between Louisiana Tech, who ended being crowned champion, and Cheyney State. This first-ever matchup set another record, that is still held today. Cheyney State was and remains, the only HBCU to make it to the championship game and to the Final Four. Cheyney State made it back to the tournament and won one game in 1983 and three games to advance to the Final Four in 1984.

Howard University and Jackson State also appeared in the 1982 tournament, but only Cheyney State made it to the last dance. Since then, there have been 19 HBCU women’s basketball programs that have played in the March Madness bracket. Hampton as the most appearances in the tournament for an HBCU with 9 appearances, but have yet to win a game.

Appearances HBCU
9 Hampton
6 Grambling State
6 Howard
6 Jackson State
6 Prairie View A&M
5 North Carolina A&T
5 Southern
3 Alabama State
3 Alcorn State
3 Cheyney
3 Coppin State
3 Tennessee State
2 Florida A&M
1 Bethune-Cookman
1 Delaware State
1 Norfolk State
1 Savannah State
1 South Carolina State
1 Texas Southern

Howard is the only HBCU to win a tournament game since the bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1994. The Bison won their game in the inaugural First Four game of the 2022 tournament, defeating Incarnate Word 55-51.

The first four games of the 2023 March Madness Women’s tournament start Wednesday and Thursday, Mar. 15-16. This will be the 42nd women’s tournament in NCAA history.

This year, there are a few HBCUs in the tournament with Southern University being in a First Four game.

In the second round Norfolk State, an HBCU, battles against South Carolina at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

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