South-Carolina
How a Dawn Staley tweet turned into road game vs Coppin State for South Carolina
Darrell Mosley was an assistant coach at Arizona State with no clue that a social media post from Dawn Staley would ultimately impact him two years later.
On Aug. 9, 2024, Staley used social media to schedule a home-and-home series, expressing a need for one more non-conference game for South Carolina women’s basketball’s 2024-25 schedule.
Three days later, she gave an update, writing “We gotta game yall. Paperwork is not complete but we are good for it! I love my HBCUs!”
According to records obtained by The Greenville News, the game contract for a home-and-home series with Coppin State was signed Aug. 24, 2024, agreeing to a home game in Columbia on Nov. 14, 2024 followed by a trip to Baltimore in the 2025-26 season.
But that was under former coach Jermaine Woods who is now the coach of Norfolk State women’s basketball.
Mosley was hired as Coppin State’s new head coach on April 14, 2025, inheriting the final game of the contract that features a rare January non-conference road game on Jan. 18 (noon ET, ESPN+).
In some ways, it’s a full circle moment for Mosley.
“I wouldn’t say we’re besties, but I definitely know coach Staley. We text from time to time,” Mosley told The Greenville News. “She’s been somebody that when I was a Division II head coach I reached out to, called a couple of times just for some advice in the business … she’s great people.”
Mosley spent 2015-21 at Lincoln University, and sought out Staley’s advice for when he was trying to navigate making the jump to the next level. Staley coached at Temple from 2000-08 which is Division I but she had a decision to make too when taking a big leap to coach at a program like South Carolina.
Even after Mosley adjusted, he remained in touch with Staley.
“I would text her, ‘hey great pick up on that recruit, happy birthday, happy holidays’ and she will always respond,” Mosley said. “Someone that busy, such a big name, she’s definitely always humble and open to responding, as we got closer that way I was like, let me just pick up the phone to try to get some advice from one of the top coaches in the country.”
How big matchups impact HBCUs
Beyond the cool moment that will be shaking hands with Staley before and after the game, South Carolina’s visit gives Coppin State more than just a Staley appearance.
“It’s a big revenue (draw) for HBCUs” Mosley said. “We’re not well funded so drawing ticket sales at the door. A regular game we have 200 people in the building, just (Staley) coming to play it’s going to probably be roughly 4,000 people. The university is able to capitalize on that revenue.”
It’s not just ticket sales but concessions and parking, all lucrative benefits in the era of NIL and revenue sharing where school’s can directly impact their programs with money drawn from games like this one.
“It’s great advertisement, good sense for recruits on our level that these are the type of teams we’re playing against,” Mosley said. “The biggest thing is what better weekend to do it than MLK weekend. It’s great competition but also giving back to the HBCUs.”
Staley is from Philadelphia so the proximity to Baltimore will bring some love from her devoted fan base in the northeast in addition to the crowd from Coppin State who doesn’t want to miss the three-time national champions trip to campus.
“I like to go on the road and I like to go into an environment like an HBCU,” Staley said on the radio Jan. 12. “It can give our players a different experience of playing in their arena, they’re going to pack their gym I’m sure … it’s a cool environment, cool to have us come up there.”
Staley said she hopes she’s asked to talk to donors to inspire financial support to the women’s basketball team.
“It’s usually (smaller conference teams) having to come to us, why not return the favor, it’s for the greater good of the game,” Staley said. “When I was at Temple, not all the top teams would play us so I try to grow the game in ways most people don’t grow it.”
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. – A Huger woman died after being hit by an umbrella during storms that hit the Midlands on Saturday night.
According to Clarendon County Coroner Jacqueline Blackwell, a 56-year-old woman from Huger died while eating at the Driftwood Grill, a Lake Marion restaurant, Saturday night after an umbrella got loose and hit her.
Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley said the umbrella hit her in the neck, severing her carotid artery. Blackwell confirmed she died at the scene.
Officials attribute the umbrella coming loose to high winds during the Saturday night storms.
According to the coroner’s office, an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
Driftwood Grill issued a statement in a post on Facebook:
“Our hearts are with the family, friends, and loved ones affected by the tragic incident during last night’s sudden severe weather event at Lake Marion.
This has deeply affected many people in our community, including guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved. Out of respect for the family and those impacted, we ask for continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time.
We are grateful for the emergency personnel and community members who responded and assisted during the situation.
Please continue to keep everyone affected in your thoughts and prayers.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Special Olympics South Carolina celebrated its 2026 USA Games team Saturday in Columbia, honoring the 124-member delegation set to represent the Palmetto State in Minneapolis.
The event at the South Carolina football team’s indoor practice facility brought together athletes, families and supporters as Team South Carolina prepares for the national games.
The celebration served as the team’s final gathering before departure, providing athletes and families with information ahead of the trip. Attendees saw the official team uniform unveiling and met delegation members.
Special Olympics South Carolina President Barry Coats said the athletes have been working and training toward this goal for years as they prepare to compete in Minneapolis.
“Everybody loves a nice-looking uniform, and our staff put some nice stuff together, but they’re there to compete,” Coats said. “They’re true athletes. They’ve been working on this for years. They’re excited. They’re ready to get there and compete.”
The delegation is made up of athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and staff who will travel to Minnesota to compete and represent South Carolina on the national stage.
Team South Carolina will compete in 13 sports: track and field, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, flag football, golf, gymnastics, pickleball, powerlifting, softball, swimming, and tennis.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will take place June 20-26. Team South Carolina departs June 19 from Columbia Metropolitan Airport and returns to Columbia on June 27.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
South-Carolina
At least 19 injured in suspected stampede at South Carolina’s Atlantic Beach: officials
At least 19 people were injured when a stampede broke out at a South Carolina beach early Sunday morning, according to officials.
Horry County Fire Rescue officials said a “reported stampede incident” took place just after 1 a.m. near the stage area in Atlantic Beach in South Carolina, 13 miles north of Myrtle Beach.
Nineteen people were evaluated for injuries, which were deemed non-life-threatening. Three others were transported to local hospitals.
Officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of additional victims who weren’t checked by first responders.
A reason behind the suspected stampede was not revealed.
Atlantic Beach is currently hosting the annual Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival with live music, meet-and-greets, parties and entertainment running between Friday and Monday.
It was not revealed if the stampede victims were associated with the bike fest.
The annual motorcycle rally attracts hundreds of thousands of revelers to the area each year, according to the town’s website.
“Black Bike Week is recently reported to draw crowds in excess of 400,000 people to the area though it is hard to distinguish them from the crowd of spring breakers who have been in Myrtle Beach during the same time.
-
News5 minutes agoClarence B. Jones, Who Helped Shape ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech, Dies at 95
-
Politics11 minutes agoHow Trump’s Cabinet Speaks to Him: Praise, Accolades and Lots of Criticizing Opponents
-
Business17 minutes agoOil Prices Fall Sharply on News of Possible Iran Deal
-
Science23 minutes agoOne-and-Done Heart Disease Prevention? Scientists Show It May Be Possible.
-
Culture41 minutes agoBook Review: ‘America, U.S.A.,’ by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.
-
Lifestyle47 minutes agoIs the Handbag Over?
-
Education53 minutes agoStudent Loan Repayments Are Being Overhauled. What Borrowers Should Know.
-
Technology59 minutes agoCox Media fined after bragging it spied on users through their phones
