A'ja Wilson Propels South Carolina in National Championship Win
South Carolina earns first national title in program history. (@GamecocksWBB/Twitter)
DALLAS, TX - The South Carolina Gamecocks are national champions for the first time in school history, after a 67-55 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday night.
In an all SEC final, the Gamecocks beat the Bulldogs for the third time this season and on the most prominent stage in the game. South Carolina came out shooting lights out in the first half, scoring 18 points in each of the first two quarters to build a 10-point lead over Mississippi State going into the half.
"We needed to attack the paint. We wanted to put them back on their heels and make the officials make a call." Dawn Staley told the press. "With any team, if you’re attacking the paint it’s just a hard guard. Our players stuck to the game plan and executed it to a T. But South Carolina is a really good defensive team and we pride ourselves on that."
A'ja Wilson was incredible for the Gamecocks going for 23 points and 10 rebounds in the contest, earning her the tournaments Most Outstanding Player honors. Before the clock expired, Wilson was seen on the bench emotional about the win.
“I just thought A’ja Wilson needed a coach that could be patient with her." said Staley. "If you’re patient with her, this is what you get in return. Staying at home is a huge responsibility and its taxing. It was a great fit for our program and her family.”
Staley, one of five WNBA players in the Hall of Fame, was recently named head coach of USA Basketball. A point guard from Philadelphia, Dawn never won a title as a player but joins Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey and Marianne Stanley as former players who went on to win a NCAA national title.
In 2008 Staley left Temple University, where she guided the Owls to six NCAA tournament appearances in eight seasons, for South Carolina. A three time gold medalist and one of the WNBA's elite, Dawn wanted to compete "among the greats".
In 1999, Carolyn Peck coached Purdue to the national championship, becoming the first African-American coach to win a NCAA title. Peck gave Staley a piece of the net she cut down that night and only asked Dawn to return when she won her own.
“I’m going to have to pass a piece of my net on to somebody else, so they can share it and hopefully accomplish something as big as this,” Staley said.
