COLUMBIA, S.C. – As Dawn Staley entered her post-game press conference, she attempted to maintain a smile, accompanied by her dog, Champ, who serves as her emotional support animal.
The head coach of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team, as well as her defending national champions, found themselves in need of bolstering after experiencing the end of an impressive winning streak at home. They faced a significant defeat against No. 7 UConn, losing 87-58, which broke their remarkable run of 71 consecutive wins at the bustling Colonial Life Arena.
Previously, South Carolina had suffered a setback against top-ranked UCLA last November, which concluded their overall win streak with a score of 77-62. Just days before the UConn game, they also lost to No. 3 Texas, marking the end of their impressive 57-game regular-season Southeastern Conference winning streak.
Staley reflected on the recent string of losses, stating, “All of our streaks have been broken this year. But it’s been a hell of a run.” This particular streak had commenced after a defeat to North Carolina State on December 3, 2020, and had continually excited fans in the packed arena as they cheered the Gamecocks to numerous victories over the seasons.
On Sunday, a sell-out crowd of 18,000 eagerly packed the arena, hoping to witness the continuation of South Carolina’s extraordinary run. However, it was UConn’s Azzi Fudd, Sarah Strong, and coach Geno Auriemma who disrupted the Gamecocks’ four-game triumph in their rivalry with significant defensive pressure and a strong offensive display.
Fudd led the way with an impressive 28 points, including six three-pointers, while notable newcomer Strong, recognized as the nation’s top incoming prospect, contributed 16 points along with 13 rebounds. Fudd explained that the team did not foresee such a commanding win, stating, “But we were ready for whatever they threw at us.”
Importantly, Strong’s background added another layer to the game, as her mother, Allison Feaster, is a South Carolina native who once set a state scoring record in high school and played alongside Staley on the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting. Staley noted Strong’s exceptional performance, stating, “Impressive… We wanted her.”
The Gamecocks found themselves trailing early, falling behind by double digits in the second quarter, and wrapping up the first half at 45-23. Player Te’Hina Paopao acknowledged the team’s numerous mistakes and lackluster performance against the Huskies, emphasizing the need to learn and improve from this experience. “We’ve just got to learn and grow from this opportunity,” she remarked. “We’ve got to do a better job giving effort and being mentally and physically tough.”
Staley also highlighted the team’s inadequate effort in the loss, saying she would hand out a grade of “F” if expected to evaluate her players’ performance academically. “They had their way with us,” she commented. “There’s no trying to find a silver lining. We got beat and we got beat bad.”
Looking ahead, Staley stressed the importance of returning to their successful defensive and offensive habits that had allowed the team to start the season with a 22-1 record before suffering two losses in their last three games. “I think we’re a little mentally and physically fatigued,” she noted. “Just the gauntlet of the season. But there comes a time when you can regroup and get it back.”
