It's no secret that South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley is proud of where she is from. Her Philadelphia roots run deep and on Sunday, Staley brought her signature fire to the national stage. Ahead of the Eagles-Broncos matchup, Staley appeared in a special NFL on CBS pregame segment, filming the show's open while proudly repping her city proudly. Sporting a vintage Jalen Hurts rookie jersey, the three-time national championship-winning coach spoke passionately about her love for Philly and her unwavering belief in the Eagles' Super Bowl chances this season.
Dawn Staley setting the tone for today. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/m7pemvWUQa
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) October 5, 2025
CBS analysts interviewed Hurts shortly after, and he lit up when asked about his bond with the Hall of Fame coach. “Dawn has welcomed me into this city since the day I got here, even when I was not the guy,” Hurts said. “She knew it was only a matter of time. I’ve got a lot of love for her. She represents the right way.” The mutual respect speaks volumes, two icons of leadership, both grounded in grit, faith, and a commitment to doing things the right way. Staley's loyalty to Philidelphia runs deep, but so does her hunger for more championships. Like her Eagles, Staley and the Lady Gamecocks enter the 2025-26 season as favorites to win it all once again. According to BetMGM, South Carolina holds +250 odds to claim another national title, just edging out UConn at +260.
The defending championships will begin their quest for another trophy on November 3rd against Grand Canyon. Before that, they will take the floor for two exhibitions games, October 24th against Anderson at Colonial Life Arena, and October 30th against North Carolina in Atlanta.
Different arenas, same energy: Dawn Staley always shows up ready to win, whether it's under the bright lights of CBS or the championship glare of March Madness.