South-Carolina
South Carolina’s Dawn Staley explains why she schedules Morgan State, other HBCU teams
In a challenging stretch of the South Carolina’s 2023-24 women’s basketball schedule, wedged between matchups against Duke and No. 7 Utah, the Gamecocks played an outlier opponent: Morgan State, an HBCU program from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
To coach Dawn Staley and her team, the Wednesday game served as important a purpose as any other contest on their slate.
When speaking at a postgame news conference after South Carolina’s 104-38 victory at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, Staley discussed why she regularly schedules teams from the MEAC, a smaller Division I conference made up of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
REQUIRED READING: South Carolina women’s basketball, Dawn Staley honor ‘Gamecock Jesus’ Carlton Thompson
For Staley, the reasons are deeply personal, based on her history and previous coaching experience.
“When I was at Temple, we couldn’t get a top team to play us besides Rutgers and Tennessee,” Staley said. “Those were the only two coaches who really gave us an opportunity. It hurt them more than it hurt us. We were an up-and-coming program. We could challenge you. We could challenge the top teams in the country. It didn’t make sense for them, so a lot of them said ‘No.’
“But I’ll always remember what coach Vivian Stringer and coach Pat Summitt did for us and giving us an opportunity to measure ourselves against some of the best, most legendary coaches. It allowed me to grow as a coach. It allowed our program to grow at Temple University. It’s scary, too. I always try to schedule people who are elevating or trying to elevate their program and move their program in the right direction.”
While any major conference program has a non-conference schedule littered with opponents from smaller leagues, Staley had made a notable commitment to arranging games against HBCUs during her tenure. Since the 2010-11 season — Staley’s third at the school — South Carolina has had at least one HBCU on its non-conference schedule every year except for the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season.
Morgan State, the Gamecocks’ opponent on Wednesday, has finished with a winning record in each of the past four seasons under coach Ed Davis, going 41-13 in MEAC play during that stretch. Staley commended the team for what she saw from it while scouting in the days leading up to the matchup, even noting that South Carolina is “going to steal a couple of their plays because they’re really good.”
It’s one reason, among others, why Staley doesn’t believe the lopsided final score is an accurate reflection of the quality of the team the Gamecocks just beat. And it’s why she’ll continue to schedule games against programs like Morgan State.
“Sometimes when you see the score, it’s a downer, but they come in here for a reason and that’s to get better,” she said. “I hope we allowed them to do that because they allowed us to do that, even though the score does not indicate that. But we do learn.”
Ole Miss football fans have showed up lately. Now they can plan for Ole Miss’ next road trip.
The No. 5 Rebels play South Carolina on Oct. 5 and will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
The Rebels beat Wake Forest in Week 3 at Winston-Salem in North Carolina.
The Gamecocks (3-1) will have two weeks to prepare for Ole Miss. South Carolina has an open week after beating Akron 50-7.
Ole Miss leads the all-time series against South Carolina 9-8. In games at South Carolina, the series is 4-4.
The Rebels host Kentucky (2-2) on Saturday (11 a.m., ABC) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
South-Carolina
A’ja Wilson thanks Dawn Staley, South Carolina basketball in accepting 2024 WNBA MVP award
A’ja Wilson sat between her college coach, Dawn Staley, and her WNBA coach, Becky Hammon, and got choked up thinking about the impact they have had on her life.
That was back in May at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. The Las Vegas Aces center spoke to the media before an Aces preseason game, and she thanked Staley for making her into the person she has become.
Four months later, Wilson stood before the media Sunday night in Las Vegas in a bright red pantsuit after being named the 2024 WNBA MVP. Again, she recognized the influence the South Carolina women’s basketball coach has had on her life and career.
“I want to thank South Carolina and Coach Staley,” said Wilson, who also mentioned her family. “I truly wouldn’t be standing here today without the hard work and sacrifices made by all those people . . . it’s humbling to walk a path paved by so many legends of this game, those who made this league what it is today.”
Wilson earned all 67 first-place votes for 670 points to become the second player in WNBA history to win the MVP unanimously — Cynthia Cooper did it in 1997.
Wilson, who was named league MVP in 2020 and 2022, joins Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as three-time MVP winners. The award comes one week after Wilson broke the WNBA record for most points in a single season, and five days after she broke the single-season rebounding record. She finished her seventh season with a league-high average of 26.9 points per game.
Staley coached Wilson at South Carolina from 2014 to 2018, and Staley won her first NCAA championship with Wilson in 2017. Wilson holds the program’s career records in points (2,389), blocked shots (363), free throws made (597) and free throws attempted (835).
On Sunday morning, Staley took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to hype up Wilson.
“THE UNANIMOUS MVP OF@WNBA BELONGS TO@_ajawilson22! Congrats A! Deserving! Earned! And Forced this one! And to the voters I’m proud to say you represented the game well….see yall for @WNBA DPOY soon,” Staley wrote.
The Aces finished the 2024 regular season as the No. 4 seed and face the No. 5 Seattle Storm in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
THE MOMENT: Look: Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson learns she won her third WNBA MVP award
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
According to the official Byrnes Rebels Football’s (South Carolina) Facebook page, Wren High School senior athlete Isaac Wigington was involved in a serious car accident
Per the post made on Facebook by the Rebels, which has nearly 3,000 page followers, Wigington is currently in critical condition and down below is the official post made by Byrnes‘s football program.
“Prayers for Isaac Wigington of Wren HS. He is a senior football player that was in a serious car accident.Below was the latest update tonight.”
“Issac remains in very critical condition. His physicians have told Paul and Angie that the next 24-48 hours will determine a lot. Right now we just have to wait and see how Issac responds. Please specifically pray that Issac shows some neurological activity during this time. Pray for decreased swelling and that his organs will be strong. Please also pray for Paul and Angie and all the people that love Issac. We know, Issac is a FIGHTER and our Lord has his hands on him. All students are encouraged to wear BLUE AND GOLD tomorrow to show support.”
Prayers for Isaac Wigington of Wren HS. He is a senior football player that was in a serious car accident.
Below was the latest update tonight.Posted by Byrnes Rebels Football on Sunday, September 22, 2024
An out pouring of support from teams all across South Carolina have pushed out posts regarding Wigington, including the Woodruff Wolverines, whom also took to Facebook to ask for prayers.
“Wolverine Nation, our opponent this coming week is Wren. But right now, I implore you to pray for them and for their running back, Isaac, who is fighting for his life after a tragic car accident. Football means absolutely nothing right now, only a young man’s life. Let’s show Wren, and Isaac, we have their back. Pray that the Lord will put his healing hand on this young man. Wren family, Wolverine Nation is with you during your time of need. Isaac, keep fighting buddy!”
Wolverine Nation, our opponent this coming week is Wren. But right now, I implore you to pray for them and for their…
Posted by Woodruff Wolverines Football on Sunday, September 22, 2024
Wigington this season has played running back and receiver for the Hurricanes, with the senior accounting for 145 all-purpose yards and scoring one touchdown. Wren is currently 3-1 through four games.
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