South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley showered love on her alma mater after they made history in the ongoing postseason.
On Monday, March 23, coach Amaka “Mox” Agugua-Hamilton’s 2025-26 Virginia Cavaliers toppled coach Jan Jensen’s Iowa Hawkeyes by eight points, 83-75, in an overtime thriller in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cavaliers have reached the Sweet 16 of the Big Dance for the first time in 26 years. They last did so in 2000. Being a legend of the program during her college basketball playing days, Staley was asked for her thoughts on her alma mater’s accomplishment in a video uploaded by @marchmadnesswbb on Instagram, taken from Staley’s recent presser. She then expounded on how proud she is of them.
“I did. I watched it. I watched it. I watched. Yeah, there’s a possibility. I’m very happy for Virginia. I’ve been in really close contact with coach Mox throughout her tenure. And I mean, I’m really happy, you know, that they made it to the Sweet 16, and they’re probably a little bit hungry for more. And, I don’t put anything past them continuing to win,” Staley shared.
“‘They’re probably hungry for a little bit more.’ Dawn Staley congratulates her alma mater on its historic return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000. #MarchMadness,” @marchmadnesswbb on Instagram captioned, March 24, 2026
For Staley and her South Carolina-based program, they too have made it all the way to the Sweet 16 of this year’s March Madness, where they are set to take on coach Jennie Baranczyk’s Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday, March 28, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers will face coach Mark Campbell’s TCU Horned Frogs on the same day and at the same venue.
Dawn Staley Posted A Message For The Virginia Cavaliers On Her Social Media Account
In another post by @marchmadnesswbb on Instagram, Dawn Staley’s message on X was shown as she congratulated the Virginia Cavaliers on their second-round victory.
Staley expressed her Virginia pride despite being the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, as she wrote:
“Congrats @UVACoachMox @UVAWomensHoops! #WAHOOWA.”
“Dawn Staley congratulates her alma mater Virginia on making history and making it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000. #MarchMadness x 🎥 ESPN,” @marchmadnesswbb on Instagram wrote.
Also Read: Dawn Staley Declares South Carolina’s “Unsung Hero” and It’s Not Assistant Coach Khadijah Sessions
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