South Carolina Gamecocks News: National champs, football recruiting, baseball struggles, and more

The latest South Carolina Gamecocks news from the last week, starting with the 2023-2024 Women's College Basketball National Champion South Carolina basketball team.

Dawn Staley and her team exacted a little revenge on the Iowa Hawkeyes, knocking off Caitlin Clark's squad 87-75 in the National Championship Game on Sunday.

Kamilla Cardoso was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, and freshman Tessa Johnson joined her on the All-Final Four team.

The Gamecocks are now just the fifth program ever to win 3 national titles (UConn, Tennessee, Baylor, and Stanford are the others). They are also the fifth program ever to go undefeated, joining UConn (6x), Tennessee, Texas, and Baylor.

Almost lost in the National Championship buzz, the Gamecocks had to beat NC State to get to the final. Carolina dominated in the 3rd quarter and won handily, 78-59.

Before winning the championship, the Gamecocks picked up some individual award wins.

Dawn Staley was named the National Coach of the Year by both the Associated Press and the Naismith Foundation.

Center Kamilla Cardoso earned the WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year trophy and was selected to the John R. Wooden All-American team. She and guard Te-Hina Paopao were selected to the WBCA All-American squad. Cardoso was a 1st team selection, and Paopao was an Honorable Mention.

Having accomplished just about everything at the college level, a Gamecock great made her WNBA Draft decision.

Kamilla Cardoso is off to the professional ranks and is projected to be a top-5 pick in this year's draft.

Incoming Gamecock Joyce Edwards had a big week, as well.

The 5-star forward was named the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year and the co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game.

Fellow Gamecock signee Maddy McDaniel (5-star guard) was injured and did not play in the McDonald's Game, but she was healthy enough to travel to the game and dress out, a good sign for her recovery.

South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris was snubbed from two National Coach of the Year honors.

The Associated Press and Naismith Foundation chose Kelvin Sampson (Houston) and Dan Hurley (UConn), respectively, as their NCOY winners.

A former Gamecock announced his new home after hitting the transfer portal the previous week.

In very unsurprising fashion, Meechie Johnson committed to return to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Johnson is returning home and receiving a big NIL payday.

An elite transfer portal guard announced the Gamecocks as one of his top-4 schools.

JP Pegues, who played the past three seasons at Furman and visited Columbia last weekend, put Carolina in a top-4 along with the Auburn Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, and Florida Gators.

A former Gamecock guard got a new coaching gig.

Mike Boynton, who spent the last 7 years at Oklahoma State before getting fired recently, will serve as an assistant coach for the Michigan Wolverines under new coach Dusty May.

Shane Beamer's South Carolina football squad made a little recruiting news, as well.

Elite 4-star cornerback Dorian Barney put the Gamecocks in his top-12.

3-star linebacker prospect Sam Haley announced his top-8, and the Gamecocks made the cut.

Coach Beamer confirmed last week some news about former high school All-American Kelton Henderson.

After being removed from the Gamecock roster the previous week, Beamer confirmed that Henderson was not with the team and had been dismissed from the program. He stated that Henderson didn't meet the work standards of what it takes to play at USC.

A former Gamecock signed his first NFL contract.

Dante Miller, an Ivy League transfer who walked on with the Gamecocks and helped out on special teams, signed a deal with the New York Giants after posting ridiculous athletic testing numbers at South Carolina Football Pro Day, including a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash.

A former South Carolina football player and Columbia native won big at Wrestlemania.

In the NXT Stand and Deliver kickoff to Wrestlemania, Matrick Belton (AKA Trick Williams) won a highly anticipated match against friend-turned-enemy Carmelo Hayes.

Mark Kingston's South Carolina baseball team continues to slide.

The Gamecocks lost another series this past weekend, falling to the Texas A&M Aggies at Founders Park 2 games to 1. USC also got smacked by Georgia Southern 8-0 in the mid-week.

Carolina now has won just one series against teams from power conferences this season.

Cole Messina suffered a concussion in game 1 of the series but has not had his status updated. Eddie Copper left his mid-week start with an apparent elbow/forearm injury. The only update given so far was "not good" from Kingston, and that type of injury usually results in Tommy John Surgery.

A former Gamecock signed a new pro contract.

After rumors of retirement this offseason, South Carolina baseball legend Jackie Bradley, Jr. signed a contract to play with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. He is hoping to make an MLB comeback.

After getting a big sweep of Ole Miss last weekend, things weren't quite as rosy for the South Carolina softball team this weekend against the other team from Mississippi.

Bev Smith's team lost their weekend series to Mississippi State 2 games to 1.

Carolina beat Winthrop in the mid-week.