Dawn Staley has done it again. The South Carolina Gamecocks have navigated through March Madness and have made it all the way to a fifth-straight Final Four. Unlike other teams relying on single stars, Staley has built a program that thrives on depth, strategy, and adaptability.
Since Staley took over in 2008, she has fully rebuilt the struggling South Carolina program. The early years were not easy, and Staley endured back-to-back losing seasons, but by 2015, the Gamecocks had reached their first Final Four. Let’s take a look at the 10 best players that Staley has coached in Columbia.
Dawn Staley’s Top 10 South Carolina Players
1. C A’ja Wilson (2014-18)
A’ja Wilson is undoubtedly the crown jewel of Staley’s coaching legacy. She led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Championship in 2017 and finished her college career as South Carolina’s all-time leading scorer.
Soon after, she moved to the WNBA’s hard courts and won multiple MVP awards, leading the Las Vegas Aces to multiple championships. Wilson even made history, becoming the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a single season.
2. F Aliyah Boston (2019-23)
Aliyah Boston is a rebounding machine and was one of the biggest reasons the Gamecocks had a national championship run in 2022. Boston later became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
3. G Raven Johnson (2021-Pres.)
Raven Johnson is the first name still playing on Staley’s courts. After battling through a knee injury in her freshman season, she came back and became an important contributor. Johnson even went on to represent Team USA at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
Her Carolina storybook isn’t finished yet. If the team wins the Final Four, she will have a chance to repeat as national champion.
4. G Te-Hina Paopao (2023-Pres.)
Te-Hina Paopao is one of Dawn Stayley’s most lethal shooters and floor generals.
She transferred to South Carolina for her senior season, and her three-point shooting cannot be ignored. In the 2024 season, Te-Hina Paopao averaged 11.5 points and 3.8 assists per game. And if that wasn’t enough, she led the nation in 3-point shooting at 48.6%.
5. G Bree Hall (2021-Pres.)
Bree Hall is a steady player on both ends of the court. She worked her way from a bench role to a starter. She contributed to South Carolina’s national championship win as a freshman and has since developed into a key scorer and defender. Hall’s ability to step up in big moments has also made her a fan favorite.
6. Tyasha Harris (2016-20)
One of the best point guards to ever play for Staley is, hands down, Tyasha Harris. She led the Gamecocks in style, becoming the first South Carolina player to record 700 career assists. She was also key to the team’s 2020 SEC championship run.
Soon after college, Tyasha Harris started playing for the Dallas Wings.
7. Tiffany Mitchell (2012-16)
Long before South Carolina and Dawn Staley became synonymous with a championship juggernaut, there was one player who laid the foundation. That is none other than Tiffany Mitchell, who was drafted ninth overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft.
8. Khadijah Sessions (2012-16)
Khadijah Sessions is a name synonymous with South Carolina’s basketball resurgence. She was a point guard before moving into coaching. After spending several years coaching at the high school level, she returned to her alma mater in July 2023 as an assistant coach.
9. Joyce Edwards (2024-Pres.)
Joyce Edwards is a name on everybody’s radar. Edwards was a five-star recruit out of Camden High School.
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She was also one of the most wanted players of the 2024 class. Her freshman season saw her average 13.0 points per game in conference play. Meanwhile, she was shooting an efficient .558 from the field.
10. Allisha Gray (2016-17)
Allisha Gray was a highly coveted recruit, ranked seventh in the nation for the 2013 class. She initially chose to play at North Carolina, but amid the UNC scandal, she moved to South Carolina.
Under Dawn Staley’s training, in her first season of eligibility, Gray helped the Gamecocks win a National Championship. The Dallas Wings later selected Gray fourth overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft.
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