There's no question about what Dawn Staley has built in Columbia. The South Carolina women's basketball team is a powerhouse and the standard in women's sports. Last season, Staley had the Gamecocks right back in national championship contention, aiming for her fourth trophy at the helm of the program. While the team came up short against UConn in the final, the mission of the Gamecocks squad is far from over.
As Coach Staley is reloading the roster for another title run next season, she is also keeping a close eye on her former star players who are lighting up the pro courts. On Father's Day, Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao went off for the Atlanta Dream, powering their team to an 89-56 win over the Mystics. And Coach Staley couldn't help but show her pride! After the game, she took to social media, giving them a shoutout:
Shout out to @GamecockWBB own @Graytness_15 @tehinapaopaoo showing out with career high in points for their daddies on Father’s Day! Com going to have to save this post bc I know it’s going to happen again! 🥰🥰🥰
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) June 16, 2025
And she is not wrong with the numbers. Paopao dropped 16 points, five assists, and a rebound. Gray had a stellar 32 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Proving that Carolina girls are just built different!
Since taking over the Gamecock program in 2008, Coach Staley has turned the program into an SEC dynasty and national juggernaut. Her resume includes three national titles, seven Final Four trips, and nine SEC regular season and tournament crowns. That's a whole lot of net! And she isn't done! After falling just short last season, you can bet that Staley and company are coming back hungrier than ever in 2025.