Beneath the management of SEC Coach of the Yr Daybreak Staley, the South Carolina Gamecocks have accomplished one other season with no single loss. Of their closing regular-season recreation, 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 staff. With back-to-back undefeated seasons, Daybreak Staley earned the title of SEC Coach of the Yr, and a number of other gamers earned private awards. Whereas their achievements could have been considerably ignored amidst historic information elsewhere, we can’t ignore the immense success of this program and the optimistic influence 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 outstanding 431-106 win loss report throughout her tenure. Following a heartbreaking loss to Iowa within the semifinals in 2023, the Gamecocks stunned many with their outstanding comeback season this yr. Not even Staley noticed this coming.
Staley is humorous, but decided. Regardless of describing her staff as “chatty in follow,” the efficiency they ship on the courtroom usually contrasts with the environment throughout follow periods.
In any case, Staley’s memorable comment about being referred to 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 acquired 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 most interesting groups. Regardless of expectations for a rebuilding season, Kamilla Cardoso, named SEC Sixth Lady of the Yr, 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 one more season. Moreover, senior middle Sakima Walker transferred to this system from Rutgers, offering further depth and expertise to the staff.
Key gamers akin to Bree Corridor, Chloe Kitts, Raven Johnson, Ashlyn Watkins, and Sania Feagin returned for South Carolina, offering continuity and power to the staff. Coach Staley additionally discovered success with the recruitment of freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley, who has proven promise in her debut season. In actual fact, she was named All-Freshman SEC staff.
South Carolina’s dominance began from the start of the season
One for historical past books! SC vs. LSU was the whole lot 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 appropriate foot, defeating Notre Dame in a specialty debut recreation 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 after 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 staff’s protection.
Moreover, Tessa Johnson from Albertville, Minnesota, was signed because the No. 25 recruit, though she hasn’t seen a lot taking part in time but. Staley additionally introduced in freshman ahead Sahnya Jah so as to add depth to the roster.
This season, South Carolina basically debuted a contemporary beginning lineup.
Staley not solely had a very new beginning 5, however Cardoso additionally showcased outstanding 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 formidable 58.1% from the sphere. Cardoso’s excellent efficiency earned her the title of SEC Defensive Participant of the Yr.
With close to double-double averages on a constant foundation, the Brazilian native showcased her dominance with a outstanding stretch of 24 blocks in simply eight video games from January 15 to February 18. Serving because the anchor of the staff, Cardoso delivered a standout efficiency in her closing common season recreation 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 Yr for the third consecutive season. Past her teaching prowess, it is the small gestures off the courtroom that really resonate together with her gamers, capturing their consideration and admiration. To be a terrific coach, there should 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 together with her household
SEC Awards are in – 6️⃣ Gamecocks are honored!
Beginning with @Kamillascsilva pic.twitter.com/mHQayvngkN
— South Carolina Ladies’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) March 5, 2024
In case you weren’t conscious, senior standout Kamilla Cardoso hails from Brazil, the place she left her household throughout center college to chase her basketball aspirations in the US. 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 taking part in within the WNBA, Coach Staley orchestrated an emotionally stirring shock throughout final Saturday’s follow.
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 might be current to observe her throughout her closing collegiate recreation. 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 the whole lot 🫶 @kamillascsilva pic.twitter.com/Qh1opAgli0
— South Carolina Ladies’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) March 2, 2024
It was the primary time her household had ever seen her play a university recreation in individual.
“That is sort of an unimaginable second for all of us, ” stated Staley in follow. “For somebody that is made unimaginable sacrifices for her household for the previous eight years. For the previous eight years, only for this recreation. Only for the sport that she loves. ” (South Carolina Ladies’s Basketball X account)
Regardless of the challenges, the emotional reunion was evident, leaving Cardoso visibly shocked and moved, together with her arms masking her face as her household entered the follow 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 acquired 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’ve got been away from your loved ones, we wished to make today particular.” (South Carolina Ladies’s Basketball X account).
And identical to that, one of the best coach in all of ladies’s basketball simply reunited her star participant together with her household. She’s been seen supporting former gamers off the courtroom, akin to A’ja Wilson within the WNBA Finals on the Barclays middle. Her skill to attach with present and former gamers is actually heartwarming.
Now that the seniors have acquired their excellent sendoff, the Gamecocks are gearing as much as face Texas A&M on Friday evening within the SEC event. With few weaknesses of their recreation, South Carolina seems poised for 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 concentrate on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut/NYC space together 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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