Beneath the management of SEC Coach of the 12 months Daybreak Staley, the South Carolina Gamecocks have accomplished one other season and not using a single loss. Of their last regular-season sport, they secured a 76-68 victory over Tennessee, wrapping up one other profitable marketing campaign.
You need to give credit score the place credit score is due. Daybreak Staley has undeniably left her mark at South Carolina, with a legacy that extends far past the basketball courtroom. In doing so, she’s constructed a dynasty.
What an unimaginable yr it has been for the South Carolina Gamecocks ladies’s basketball workforce. With back-to-back undefeated seasons, Daybreak Staley earned the title of SEC Coach of the 12 months, and a number of other gamers earned private awards. Whereas their achievements might have been considerably missed amidst historic data elsewhere, we can not ignore the immense success of this program and the optimistic impression Staley is making.
Since Daybreak Staley took over as head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks within the 2008-2009 season, she has led them to 2 nationwide titles, notably securing their first in 2017. In a profession 537 video games, she has a exceptional 431-106 win loss document throughout her tenure. Following a heartbreaking loss to Iowa within the semifinals in 2023, the Gamecocks stunned many with their exceptional comeback season this yr. Not even Staley noticed this coming.
Staley is humorous, but decided. Regardless of describing her workforce as “chatty in apply,” the efficiency they ship on the courtroom typically contrasts with the environment throughout apply classes.
In any case, Staley’s memorable comment about being known as “boo” amidst the boos throughout their rival victory towards LSU is one for the books.
The Gamecocks had been anticipated to regress from final yr
“I received three outfits packed, I am hoping to make use of all of them.”
Championship mindset for Daybreak Staley 😎 🏆 @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/dlFKvV8SWM
— SEC Community (@SECNetwork) March 7, 2024
After a season of South Carolina’s 29-0 dominance, Coach Staley was anticipated to face setbacks as 5 key gamers, together with Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke, departed for the WNBA Draft. With this loss, many anticipated the Gamecocks to regress after reaching the ultimate 4 the earlier yr.
In a yr stuffed with surprises, Staley crafted one in every of her best groups. Regardless of expectations for a rebuilding season, Kamilla Cardoso, named SEC Sixth Girl of the 12 months, shone as a standout participant excelling on each offense and protection.
South Carolina bolstered its roster by including senior guard Te-Hina Paopao from Oregon, who has chosen to return to this system for an additional season. Moreover, senior middle Sakima Walker transferred to this system from Rutgers, offering further depth and expertise to the workforce.
Key gamers comparable to Bree Corridor, Chloe Kitts, Raven Johnson, Ashlyn Watkins, and Sania Feagin returned for South Carolina, offering continuity and power to the workforce. Coach Staley additionally discovered success with the recruitment of freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley, who has proven promise in her debut season. In truth, she was named All-Freshman SEC workforce.
South Carolina’s dominance began from the start of the season
One for historical past books! SC vs. LSU was all the things and a few extra. The gamecocks battled to remain undeafeated! pic.twitter.com/RNhEcR7vAO
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) January 26, 2024
The Gamecocks began off on the best foot, defeating Notre Dame in a specialty debut sport in Paris. From there, South Carolina had sturdy defeats over No. 14 Maryland, No. 24 North Carolina, No. 11 Utah, No. 9 LSU, and No. 11 UConn. With an astonishing 258 level differential of their first 5 video games towards Notre Dame, Maryland, Clemson, South Dakota State, and Mississippi Valley State, they made shockwaves across the basketball world.
Throughout their commanding season, the Gamecocks showcased their defensive prowess by holding groups like Clemson, Morgan State, Presbyterian, East Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Alabama to 45 factors or fewer.
A standout second occurred on November twenty fourth once they secured a historic 101-19 victory over Mississippi Valley State College, conceding simply seven factors within the second half. Whereas not all opponents had been extremely ranked, these performances underscored the distinctive high quality of the workforce’s protection.
Moreover, Tessa Johnson from Albertville, Minnesota, was signed because the No. 25 recruit, though she hasn’t seen a lot enjoying time but. Staley additionally introduced in freshman ahead Sahnya Jah so as to add depth to the roster.
This season, South Carolina primarily debuted a recent beginning lineup.
Staley not solely had a totally new beginning 5, however Cardoso additionally showcased exceptional enchancment, posting career-best statistics. In her third season with the Gamecocks, she averaged 25 minutes, 14.1 factors, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and shot a powerful 58.1% from the sphere. Cardoso’s excellent efficiency earned her the title of SEC Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
With close to double-double averages on a constant foundation, the Brazilian native showcased her dominance with a exceptional stretch of 24 blocks in simply eight video games from January 15 to February 18. Serving because the anchor of the workforce, Cardoso delivered a standout efficiency in her last common season sport towards Tennessee, tallying 18 factors and 14 rebounds.
Daybreak Staley’s distinctive management was as soon as once more acknowledged as she earned the title of SEC Coach of the 12 months for the third consecutive season. Past her teaching prowess, it is the small gestures off the courtroom that actually resonate along with her gamers, capturing their consideration and admiration. To be an excellent coach, there have to be a connection and love for the gamers, and Staley confirmed that on Senior Day. Get able to carry your tissues out.
Daybreak Staley reunited Kamilla Cardoso along with her household
SEC Awards are in – 6️⃣ Gamecocks are honored!
Beginning with @Kamillascsilva pic.twitter.com/mHQayvngkN
— South Carolina Girls’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) March 5, 2024
When you weren’t conscious, senior standout Kamilla Cardoso hails from Brazil, the place she left her household throughout center faculty to chase her basketball aspirations in the USA. Regardless of dealing with quite a few obstacles, she secured a scholarship to Syracuse however finally transferred to South Carolina in her second yr. Now, as she pursues her dream of enjoying within the WNBA, Coach Staley orchestrated an emotionally stirring shock throughout final Saturday’s apply.
Senior day is already an emotional event, however celebrating it with out family members can be extremely difficult. To Coach Staley’s credit score, she took the initiative to make sure that Kamilla Cardoso’s household may very well be current to observe her throughout her last collegiate sport. This considerate gesture undoubtedly added a big layer of that means to the event for Cardoso and her household.
Initially denied entry to the US, Coach Staley intervened, contacting state representatives to facilitate the arrival of Kamilla Cardoso’s mom, Janete Soares, and sister, Jessica Silva, from Brazil to South Carolina.
For the South Carolina Gamecocks, it is greater than basketball
Household over all the things 🫶 @kamillascsilva pic.twitter.com/Qh1opAgli0
— South Carolina Girls’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) March 2, 2024
It was the primary time her household had ever seen her play a school sport in individual.
“That is type of an unimaginable second for all of us, ” stated Staley in apply. “For somebody that is made unimaginable sacrifices for her household for the previous eight years. For the previous eight years, only for this sport. Only for the sport that she loves. ” (South Carolina Girls’s Basketball X account)
Regardless of the challenges, the emotional reunion was evident, leaving Cardoso visibly shocked and moved, along with her palms protecting her face as her household entered the apply facility. In such a healthful second, Staley confirmed that it is a lot greater than basketball. Her drive and empathy to facilitate this transfer spoke volumes.
“We received an opportunity to do one thing fairly particular, yup, yup, ” stated coach Staley. “Kamilla, let’s carry the individuals who additionally made that sacrifice for the previous eight years. To be away from your loved ones for so long as you have been away from your loved ones, we needed to make at the present time particular.” (South Carolina Girls’s Basketball X account).
And identical to that, one of the best coach in all of ladies’s basketball simply reunited her star participant along with her household. She’s been seen supporting former gamers off the courtroom, comparable to A’ja Wilson within the WNBA Finals on the Barclays middle. Her potential to attach with present and former gamers is actually heartwarming.
Now that the seniors have acquired their good sendoff, the Gamecocks are gearing as much as face Texas A&M on Friday evening within the SEC match. With few weaknesses of their sport, South Carolina seems poised for yet one more excellent season underneath the management of Coach Staley.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator and Social Media Supervisor at Ballislife. She has a deal with the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at the moment resides in Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
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