On January 15, The Athletic ranked Dawn Staley No. 2 behind Steve Kerr on its list of the most admired leaders in sports. Watching the Gamecocks face Texas tonight in Columbia showed exactly why she’s held in such high regard.

Gamecock coaches and players paid tribute to Dawn Staley by wearing shirts with her face on them that said, “My favorite coach is a woman.” It was a gesture honoring a coach who has done so much for the program. Check out the shirts below!

Staley was one of the trailblazers of the WNBA, a six-time All-Star who became one of the top floor generals of her era, and she carried that excellence into her coaching career. Across 18 seasons at South Carolina, she has become one of the best culture builders in sports, turning the Gamecocks into a powerhouse.

As a coach, Staley has led South Carolina to three NCAA titles and seven Final Fours, with five in a row since 2021. This season, she is chasing a fourth championship, and you can see why she is so beloved throughout the program.

This season, Coach Dawn Staley has had to manage major injuries, with Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins sidelined for the year. It’s also not the same roster as last season, where she could turn to Tessa Johnson for Te-Hina Paopao or bring Joyce Edwards off the bench to change the flow of a game. Johnson and Edwards are starters now, and the bench production has been far from reliable.

After leading the country with 40.3 bench points per game last season, the Gamecocks are now averaging fewer points than Ohio State’s 25.4 bench average, leaving Dawn Staley’s team outside the top 50 in the country. In the game against Texas, the bench managed just nine points, which is a real concern.

But midway through the season, help arrived, and that just happened to be French star Alicia Tournebize, who made her debut tonight vs. Texas. Even though she was on the floor for just five minutes and didn’t have much of a chance to impact the stat sheet, the belief around her remains strong.

She looks like a piece South Carolina will lean on in the future. And it’s not hard to see why. Before arriving in Columbia, Tournebize already had professional experience with Tango Bourges Basket and went on to represent France at the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, where she earned All-Star Five honors.

Now, it’s time to see what the freshman brings to Dawn Staley’s daycare. She’s already had a taste of how wins are celebrated in South Carolina, as the Gamecocks edged past Texas, 68–65. So….

What’s next for Dawn Staley and co?

It was a performance to savor for Dawn Staley and company. The Gamecocks shot 44% from the field, scored 28 points in the paint, and forced Texas into 22 turnovers, which turned into 23 points. Joyce Edwards led the way with 14 points, 8 boards, and 3 steals. Tessa Johnson added 13, and Raven Johnson had 10 while being involved in 12 of USC’s 20 points in the fourth quarter.

An all-around performance to be proud of!

Top Stories

Travis Kelce Announces New Career Move Away From Chiefs After Confirming Retirement Stance

Official Report Highlights Tragedy After Olympic Snowboard Medalist Passes Away at 50

Josh Allen Announces Tough News for Bills Amid Sean McDermott’s Concerns Ahead of Broncos Game

Simone Biles Draws Criticism From Chicago Fans After Bulls–Jazz NBA Game Appearance

Tiger Woods’s GF Vanessa Trump and Daughter Kai Steal the Spotlight at His 50th Birthday Bash

Tragic Death of Shaq & Kobe’s Ex-Teammate Linked to Fatal Mistake, Authorities Confirm

But South Carolina’s job isn’t done yet, with more tough matchups ahead. The Gamecocks will face Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, both top-15 teams, in their next two matchups. While South Carolina will be favored in both, with ESPN giving them over a 75% chance to win each, Coach Staley knows nothing comes easy in the SEC.

But the Gamecocks have a new post presence in Alicia Tournebize to help with depth issues. The French forward is the first French woman to have a dunk documented in women’s sports, according to SportsCenter, and she will undoubtedly be a big help off the bench for Coach Staley moving forward.

Do you think Tournebize will play a big role for South Carolina moving forward? Share your thoughts in the comments!