Clean Sweep: South Carolina basketball wins 3 ESPYs, Dawn Staley also honored

Thursday night was a big night for the South Carolina basketball as the Gamecocks' women's basketball program took the ESPYs by storm.

With all ten returners from last year's team in attendance in Los Angeles (Te-Hina Paopao, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson, Raven Johnson, Bree Hall, Sania Feagin, Ashlyn Watkins, Chloe Kitts, Sakima Walker, and Adhel Tac), the Gamecocks had been nominated for three honors. As it turned out, it was a clean sweep for the Gamecocks as they won them all. In addition to the three wins, head coach Dawn Staley also received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.

Staley's honor was for her efforts in raising awareness and money for cancer research, screenings, and treatments. In light of Coach Staley's loss of her good friend, former teammate, and fellow coach Nikki McCray-Pinson and her sister Tracey Underwood's battle with the disease, she has been inspired to become a major player in the fight against cancer. She also has been an outspoken advocate for equality in race and gender, especially in sports.

Her basketball team was nominated for the ESPY for Best Team and brought home the honor. The Gamecocks went undefeated en route to their third National Championship this season, knocking off the sport's all-time leading scorer (Iowa Hawkeyes legend Caitlin Clark) along the way. Unfortunately, the broadcast on ABC missed most of the time that the USC players were on stage accepting their award.

Former South Carolina basketball star A'ja Wilson won two ESPY awards by herself, completing the clean sweep for the Gamecocks. The best women's basketball player in the world was honored as such as she received the ESPY for Best WNBA Player. However, the honor didn't stop there as she also was selected as the winner for the Best Athlete, Women's Sports trophy, as well.