“I don’t think we’re paying the most in the NIL space, and honestly, I don’t even know if it’s fair.” Known for her upfront personality, even Dawn Staley could not help but point out the glaring reality once the NCAA championship ended. As the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, Staley boasts of a strong yet resilient locker room. But when it comes to NIL deals, even the proud HC’s focus on player development fails to stop the roster from depleting.

Take MiLaysia Fulwiley, for example. Watching one of the most trusted athletes progress to another locker room is never easy. Especially if it happens to be none other than Kim Mulkey’s. While the HC has always emphasized skill over money prospects, her locker room culture follows a systematic NIL pattern. On the latest episode of the IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson podcast, Dawn Staley revealed that her players sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) concerning each contract to protect their privacy.

Moreover, Staley opened up about the recruitment process for the first time. While South Carolina has not publicly addressed the distribution of funds, Staley explained in general, “Probably $20 million per school, but that’s football, that’s men’s basketball, and maybe sprinkling women’s basketball and other Olympic sports.” Despite having adequate money to retain athletes, Staley argued that the revenue sharing among schools is a challenging ordeal. Especially when it comes to recruitment process.

“That’s the difficult part,” Staley said. “The market says that if you’re a non-contributor and you go into the portal, they can go ask a school like us for $100,000. If I entertain that, they’re going to take it to another school, (saying) ‘hey South Carolina offered me a hundred grand, you got $150,000?” And boy, is she right! While the HC has no issues paying a higher sum, how much is the deal worth to the athlete? After all, that sum does not guarantee that the player will stay in the system for long.

The head coach exposed the sad reality surrounding the transfer portals, where young athletes are primarily interested in minting money. No wonder the Baylor Bear men’s roster depleted entirely after the March Madness, as athletes transferred to better programs offering lucrative deals. With several recommitments and constant transfers being the new normal, can locker room systems thrive on culture and development anymore? As a new class of recruits joins the schools, things seem more materialistic than passionate for the athletes and the schools alike.

Dawn Staley Pens a heartfelt note for her Gamecocks Athlete

After South Carolina Gamecocks was hit with a brutal reality check during the transfer portals, head coach Dawn Staley & Co. suffered another major setback. After being unable to play during the March Madness tournament last season, college athlete Ashlyn Watkins recently announced her decision to take a break from the games.

So, when the junior forward announced her decision to take a step back and focus on “myself, my community, my faith, my family, so that I can grow as an individual and attempt to master the journey of life,” HC Staley did not hold back. As a mentor, guide, and coach to young college players, Staley penned a heartfelt note in response to Watkins’ decision.

“Everyone in our program is as valued as the whole of who they are, not just as a player or coach or staff member, and not just for the time they are on our team,” HC Dawn Staley said. “We will support Ashyln as she works through getting her body and mind stronger; and we will be here when she is ready to return.” This reflects the locker room values of Staley’s system, which refuses to give up on a struggling athlete.

With MiLaysia and Ashlyn no longer a part of the roster, the HC would have to rely on Ta’Niya Latson and others to propel the locker room into a successful season. While Dawn Staley did raise her concerns surrounding recruitments and NIL deals, things in the basketball world change in the blink of an eye.