Tag: south carolina women’s basketball

Dawn Staley revealed that teams already don’t want to play South Carolina next season

If a coach had five new starters, went undefeated AND won a championship, I’d be scared too.

The ripple effect of South Carolina going undefeated and winning a national championship is already stretching into next season. Dawn Staley recently shared that she believes teams are afraid to add the Gamecocks to their schedule.

South Carolina stunned the women’s basketball community when it opened and closed the season the same way — with an ultra-impressive win. From the opening tip in Paris with a new starting unit to the final minutes of the national championship in Cleveland, Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks owned the 2023-2024 season.

But apparently, it hasn’t come without consequences. Staley recently told a local radio station that teams don’t seem too enthusiastic about playing South Carolina.

Per Payton Titus of The State, this is what Staley told the station Wednesday:

“It’s really hard because people don’t want to play us,” Staley said of the challenges that come with putting together a schedule. “And, I mean, really good teams don’t want to play. And I just…I don’t get it.”

Staley went on to share that the team already has some matchups on its 2024-2025 schedule, including UConn at South Carolina, South Carolina at UCLA, and a must-see matchup with Kara Lawson and Duke.

The Gamecocks will also participate in the ACC-SEC challenge again as well.

Beyoncé sending Dawn Staley flowers has hoops fans creating magnificent memes

South Carolina is officially in the Bey Hive, and hoops fans created some absolutely hilarious memes

After Beyoncé sent Dawn Staley flowers to congratulate her and South Carolina on their immaculate season, hoops fans realized that Beyoncé had been watching the whole time and responded with magnificent memes.

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: WE ARE NOT TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA’S UNDEFEATED SEASON. Apparently, Beyoncé likely feels the same way and recently sent Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks their proverbial and literal flowers.

Dawn was so pumped that she shared precious videos to X (Formerly Twitter) of her thanking Beyoncé and celebrating the certified stamp of approval that one of the biggest celebrities on the planet gave to South Carolina.

Right on cue, hoops fans immediately made a colossal realization: Beyoncé had seen all the wildly impressive things South Carolina did to win a national championship. They responded with some hysterically creative memes and tweets.

Here’s some of the best we found:

Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso being drafted to the Chicago Sky has fans making Tim Duncan and David Robinson memes

The internet is gonna internet, and these memes are glorious.

The Chicago Sky shook up the first round of the WNBA Draft Monday night when they drafted Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. The team’s decision has fans making so many memes, including Tim Duncan and David Robinson comparisons.

After her stellar play in the national championship, there was always a chance that Kamilla Cardoso would get drafted sooner than where she was projected. The Chicago Sky scooped her up at pick No. 3 and then came back and grabbed Angel Reese at Pick No. 7, a pick they didn’t own before April 14.

Truthfully, that’s one heck of a first-round draft haul. Cardoso and Reese will likely do some serious damage on the glass, and the front office should be thrilled after the Sky had a very shaky off-season.

Fans immediately noticed the endless possibilities of what happens when pairing the two players together. Rightfully so, they responded with tons of memes, including several of former Spurs greats Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

Here’s some of the best the internet has to offer:

Women’s basketball national championship was most watched basketball game at any level since 2019

The women’s national championship game on Sunday was the most-watched sporting event since 2019, excluding football and the Olympics.

Everyone watches women’s sports, and the Division I women’s national championship game on Sunday between Iowa and South Carolina put a big exclamation point on that statement: It was the most-watched basketball game — men’s or women’s, college or professional — since 2019.

The game averaged 18.7 million viewers and peaked at 24 million viewers. It was the most-watched sporting event since 2019, excluding football and the Olympics.

Supporters of women in sports have always known the potential existed for record-breaking viewership if only the product was given the platform on which to grow and thrive. Despite years of systemic inequity in coverage and investment, the women’s game is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

The NCAA “recently signed a new eight-year, $920 million TV deal with ESPN to cover its 40 other championships, including the women’s basketball tournament, which has seen a significant uptick in ratings and ticket sales. That new deal will pay the NCAA an average of $115 million per year starting next year, up from the current ESPN deal, which paid $45.2 million in 2023.” This was negotiated before the exponential increase in viewership during this year’s women’s March Madness Tournament.

The new media rights deal values women’s March Madness at $65 million annually, more than half of the $115 million yearly total ESPN will be paying. Thus, the women’s side of the game could become more lucrative for conferences and schools if the NCAA starts to pay school “units” for wins in the women’s tournament.

Around $200 million is up for grabs on the men’s side of March Madness this year because of a revenue distribution model set up to compensate conferences with teams in the NCAA Tournament. These payments are known as “units.” The conferences will receive payment for each win a team in their conference has in the tournament, but only for the men’s side of the game. Teams such as UConn, South Carolina and Iowa, which have dominated in recent years, will not receive any revenue distribution for their wins in women’s March Madness. South Carolina has won three national championships since 2017, but no revenue was distributed to the conference for the team’s stellar performances.

There are 132 units available this March Madness for the men’s side of the game in 2024, each valued at approximately $2 million.

However, with the new media rights deal, record-breaking viewership and elevated interest in the women’s side of the game, conferences could begin to see units distributed to them as early as 2025. This will put an impetus on schools to invest in their women’s basketball programs since there could be an extremely lucrative payout for them at the end of postseason play.

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Celebrate South Carolina’s national championship with commemorative cover

Get your hands on the ultimate piece of gear to celebrate South Carolina’s 2024 National Championship

There is only one word to describe the 2023-24 South Carolina women’s basketball team: PERFECT.

The Gamecocks defeated Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75, putting the finishing touches on an undefeated season with a national championship.

There are many ways to celebrate this monumental achievement, but USA TODAY and the Greenville News are offering a piece of history with the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship commemorative cover and a keepsake eight-page extended championship edition.

SHOP: South Carolina commemorative cover

Whether your a lifelong South Carolina fan, recently hopped on the bandwagon, or just want to celebrate this incredible level of women’s basketball, this cover can become the ultimate piece of wall art.

Fans can get the cover framed, or as a variety of prints including wooden, canvas, acrylic, and metal.

Never forget the moment the Gamecocks completed their undefeated season and won the 2024 National Championship, with this ultimate symbol of South Carolina fandom.

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We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. FTW operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

How to buy Iowa vs. South Carolina NCAA Women’s National Championship game tickets

Want to watch South Carolina vs. Iowa in person? Limited tickets for the Women’s NCAA title game still remain for as little as $345.

After almost three weeks of madness, chalk reigns supreme in the women’s bracket as No. 1 South Carolina and No. 1 Iowa will play for a national championship.

Undefeated South Carolina dominated the second half and defeated No. 3 North Carolina State 78-59 to secure the first spot in the National Championship Game.

Iowa held on to win a roller coaster of a Final Four game against No. 3 UConn 71-69.

SHOP: South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets

The undisputed top team in the country in the Gamecocks taking on the consensus best player in the country in Caitlin Clark, what more could you want…besides a ticket?

The National Championship Game will be played in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and limited tickets still remain.

Don’t miss the chance to see a champion crowned and a historic moment in Caitlin Clark’s final collegiate game.

At the time of publication, National Championship Game tickets were still available for as little as $345.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/dexnDOY”]

How to buy Iowa vs. South Carolina NCAA Women’s National Championship game tickets

Want to watch South Carolina vs. Iowa in person? Limited tickets for the Women’s NCAA title game still remain for as little as $345.

After almost three weeks of madness, chalk reigns supreme in the women’s bracket as No. 1 South Carolina and No. 1 Iowa will play for a national championship.

Undefeated South Carolina dominated the second half and defeated No. 3 North Carolina State 78-59 to secure the first spot in the National Championship Game.

Iowa held on to win a roller coaster of a Final Four game against No. 3 UConn 71-69.

SHOP: South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets

The undisputed top team in the country in the Gamecocks taking on the consensus best player in the country in Caitlin Clark, what more could you want…besides a ticket?

The National Championship Game will be played in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and limited tickets still remain.

Don’t miss the chance to see a champion crowned and a historic moment in Caitlin Clark’s final collegiate game.

At the time of publication, National Championship Game tickets were still available for as little as $345.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/dexnDOY”]

Maddy McDaniel talks special relationship with South Carolina’s Dawn Staley

South Carolina commit Maddy McDaniel breaks down her relationship with head coach Dawn Staley.

Even though South Carolina got involved late in her recruitment, Maddy McDaniel forged a strong relationship with head coach Dawn Staley. It is a relationship that impressed the McDonald’s All-American.

McDaniel, a guard from Bishop McNamara High School (Upper Marlboro, Maryland), spoke ahead of Tuesday night’s McDonald’s All-American Game. She is a five-star prospect per ESPN and is part of a stellar recruiting class pulled in by Staley.

South Carolina will face North Carolina State on Friday night in the Final Four.

During Monday’s press conference for the McDonald’s All-American Game, McDaniel was asked by USA TODAY High School Sports about her relationship with Staley.

“Such a great person like surprisingly, they were one of the later schools to come on in my recruitment,” McDaniel said.

“But I felt like there was just like with our relationship she’s just so down to earth you wouldn’t think that.”

The girls game will take place on Tuesday night, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Raven Johnson explained how Dawn Staley keeps South Carolina calm with the smoothest motto

“We have THE Dawn Staley…how can you sweat?”

South Carolina has won an impressive 35 games in a row, but their record hasn’t come without some close calls, including Friday’s thriller with Indiana. Sophomore guard Raven Johnson says the team doesn’t panic in those high-pressure situations because of two words: Dawn Staley.

We’ve been saying it all season long, but Dawn Staley is putting on a masterclass in coaching. After losing all five starters from last year’s team to the WNBA, many analysts didn’t think South Carolina would look as dominant as they have. But, despite the doubt, the Gamecocks have churned out an undefeated record — the only team to do so in college basketball. They have won 35 games and recently survived a nail-biter against Indiana that required a clutch 3-point bucket from Raven Johnson to propel South Carolina to the Elite 8.

Bree Hall, Johnson’s teammate and fellow 3-point specialist, was asked why the team continues to succeed in such high-stakes situations. Hall answered the question very transparently, and Johnson quickly followed up, adding a Dawn Staley-themed one-liner for the ages. Per Amanda Poole of WACH FOX 57, here’s what Johnson said that had the whole room, including Staley, giggling:

“We have THE Dawn Staley. I mean, when you have a coach like that, how can you sweat? If she don’t sweat, we don’t sweat.”

South Carolina broke out the Macarena (in the 3rd quarter!) before its jaw-clenching win over Indiana

And, now a quick flashback to the 90s. Take it away, Gamecocks!

Indiana and South Carolina’s Sweet 16 matchup was so stressful that hoops fans everywhere probably need a moment to breathe. It went down to the wire. Nevertheless, before the chaos of the second half started, the Gamecocks broke out the Macarena.

You might have pulled out some hair watching Indiana and South Carolina. South Carolina went on a 15-4 run to end the first half, but poor shooting let Indiana right back in. The Hoosiers chipped away at a 21-point lead, getting it down to two points before Kamilla Cardoso added to her 22-point night with a timely bucket. Moments later, Raven Johnson hit a filthy 3-pointer that boosted the lead just out of reach, and Ashlyn Watkins finished it off with a gutsy block.

If reading all of that seems like a lot, IT WAS. But fans noticed a moment, lost in the game, right before the third quarter started. South Carolina broke out the Macarena. Seriously.