The hardwood at Colonial Life Arena hummed with purpose this morning as Dawn Staley, the architect of South Carolina’s women’s basketball dynasty, dropped a confident note on social media.
The Gamecocks’ head coach posted an image of a player mid-shot, drilling a basket over a cone during a training session, accompanied by a teasing message: “Good am! We got a few more pros for ya in the gym this morning! Yours truly.”
Her recent post signals that the program continues to churn out WNBA-ready talent, strengthening her team’s status as a powerhouse. With a track record of national championships and a roster full of potential, this recent declaration is a promise well backed by her decade-plus of dominance.
South Carolina’s Elite Training Ground Produces WNBA-Caliber Talent
Since taking the helm in 2008, Staley has transformed the Gamecocks into a talent factory. According to University of South Carolina Athletics records, five players were drafted into the WNBA in 2023 alone, including Aliyah Boston, who was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever, and three in 2024.
Staley was a former WNBA point guard with the Charlotte Sting. She brings a player’s perspective to coaching. Her teams have claimed three NCAA titles (2017, 2022, 2024) and nine SEC regular-season championships, evidence of her ability to nurture and develop stars.
The current roster, featuring players like Kamilla Cardoso and Raven Johnson, carries forward this legacy. The focus has paid off, with South Carolina ranking among the top programs for producing WNBA draft picks over the past five years, per ESPN’s report.
The Gamecocks’ recent achievements provide a solid foundation for their recent claim.
Good am @WNBA! We got a few more pros for ya in the gym this morning!
Yours truly, @GamecockWBB 🥰🥰🥰 pic.twitter.com/r7iJIrpMmt
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) June 20, 2025
The 2023/2024 season saw the team go undefeated at 38-0, capping the year with an 87-75 victory over Iowa in the NCAA Championship game on Apr 7, 2024. This marked the program’s third national title under her leadership, a feat achieved by only five NCAA women’s basketball programs in history.
The victory also extended South Carolina’s SEC winning streak to 43 games, a record set on February 18, 2024, evidence of the team’s consistency at the conference level.
Staley’s ability to attract top talent has also kept the program competitive, with the 2024/2025 roster featuring a mix of returning stars and promising newcomers. The coach’s seven-year, $22.4 million contract extension, signed on October 15, 2021, underscores her value to the university and the sport.
Her leadership has also earned her five SEC Coach of the Year awards, with the latest in 2024, evidence of her ongoing impact.
The Gamecocks’ trajectory suggests continued relevance. The 2024/2025 season tips off in November, and with a reloaded roster, South Carolina aims to defend its title. Staley’s post signaled to the WNBA and rival programs that her talent pipeline remains robust.
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