Her message was simple: she wants her players to express themselves, to speak up, not to hold back. Fast forward to the SEC Tournament now, and Staley might just be rethinking that philosophy—at least a little.
Well, the credit goes to Chloe Kitts, who had an impressive 25-point contribution in No. 5 South Carolina’s 84-69 win against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Since she held off a furious second-half rally, it wasn’t really a surprise when reporters asked her,
she shared. She may have messed up, but at least she was honest.
Chloe Kitts continued her hot streak, nabbing her third consecutive double-double with a career-high 25 points and 10 boards. Kitts shot 12-for-14 from the floor, highlighted by her own 7-0 run in the fourth quarter that put the Gamecocks back on top by double figures.
Oops. And just like that, Staley and her staff were left scrambling to adjust their play calls mid-tournament.
Communication is key, sure—but as Staley just found out, timing is everything too. Especially as she and the Gamecocks head to the SEC semifinals for the sixth straight season and the 12th time under her leadership. But the head coach didn’t forget who helped her get that win inside the bucket.
Staley expressed when asked about Kitts’ performance. And honestly, why not? While most of South Carolina’s contributions come from the bench, Kitts—one of the starters—continues to dominate.
Even in today’s game, No. 21 for the Gamecocks played 29 minutes and led all starters with her double-double of 25 points and 18 rebounds. Mind you, if SC’s starters aren’t efficient, the bench would add no value to the game. So, the Gamecocks’ dominance—or one of the best benches in the nation—stems from their starters, too.
Smart move! Especially when the task at hand isn’t completed just yet.
Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks are vying for the national title yet again.
For Dawn Staley, South Carolina isn’t just a basketball program—it’s family. She’s poured her heart into building the Gamecocks into a powerhouse, turning what was once a struggling SEC team into the most dominant force in women’s college basketball.
It wasn’t always like this.
But Staley changed everything. Her disciplined approach led to the Gamecocks’ first-ever SEC title in 2014, their first Final Four the following season, and their first national championship in 2017. Now? They’re three-time national champions, fresh off a 38-0 season last year, and a serious contender yet again.
The Secret to South Carolina’s Success? Depth. Game after game, South Carolina’s bench steps up. Against Vanderbilt, the reserves poured in 29 of the team’s 84 points, with MiLaysia Fulwiley leading the charge. Against No. 15 Kentucky, they were even more dominant, contributing 32 of 78 points—Tessa Johnson alone dropped 16 on near-perfect shooting.
He’s right.
Opponents may keep things close early, but by the fourth quarter, the Gamecocks have another gear that most teams simply can’t match. Moving on, with March Madness just around the corner, South Carolina is still projected as a No. 1 seed, despite recent losses to UConn and Texas. ESPN’s Charlie Creme currently has them in the Birmingham 4 Region, set to host in Columbia. A win against No. 5 Oklahoma could solidify their spot at the top, but an early SEC Tournament exit could make things complicated. What do you think will happen?
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