South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has now reached the pinnacle of women’s hoops with her third national title and an undefeated season.

According to her players, there’s no coach more deserving of such success.

Following the Gamecocks’ 2024 title game victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa, who thwarted their bid for an undefeated title-winning season the year before, Staley and Carolina were coronated at last.

After the game, several of Staley’s players spoke to media, explaining just how much their head coach meant to them.

First to speak was Gamecock star player Kamilla Cardoso:

“She means a lot to me. I feel like, since the first day I got to South Carolina, she’s been working so hard to get me ready and prepared for moments like this,” said the South Carolina center.

“I’m just so thankful to have her as a coach. She’s like an inspiration for me and a lot of young girls out there. She’s the best in the business, you already know.”

Next, Raven Johnson explained how Staley has made this basketball program feel so warm and welcoming to the players.

“It means a lot just to play, just to learn from her. She’s like a mom,” shared Johnson.

“I mean, I don’t know, I go to her about everything. I could joke around with her.

I could do anything, just anything. She’s like a mom, like a home away from home. It’s a home-away-from-home feeling.

There’s no better way to have a coach like her and be so comfortable around her. And I take pride in what she do for us, on and off the court, not just basketball.”

Cardoso concurred with Johnson, noting how Staley really does create a family type of atmosphere, which is comforting for a player like Cardoso who’s so far away from home.

“I agree with Raven. I feel like, especially me, I’m international, and I don’t have my family here.

She’s just like a family for me, a family away from home,” said Cardoso. “I’m just so thankful to have her as a coach.”

Lastly, Te-Hina Paopao explained that she feels lucky to have gotten to play for a person and coach like Staley.

“Man, she’s so important to have in people’s lives. She’s amazing. God has put her in my life, and she’s impacted it so much, not only me, but my family.

She changes lives for the better. I wish you guys could experience that and just how much she’s helped me as a player and as a woman.”

“And she’s just amazing, man. It’s a blessing. Just playing for her is so much fun. People just love playing for her. People would run through brick walls for her.

To be able to have a coach like that, it’s unimagined. We’re all just really blessed to have someone like her in our corner. She just impacted our lives for the better.”

As great as Dawn Staley is as a coach, it seems to be her connection with her players that really makes South Carolina such a special place to play basketball.