Although the South Carolina women’s basketball team lost to UConn on Sunday, preventing them from repeating as national champions, coach Dawn Staley took a moment to express her appreciation for the local media who have been close to her team. Speaking to a group of reporters after the game, she acknowledged the importance of their coverage.
“I’ll leave on this note — this is our local media,” she said, H/T Julia Westerman, WIS 10 in Columbia. “You have followed us throughout the season, and while I often decline requests for national coverage because they don’t really know our team, you all do. You cover us so well that it’s clear you’re not just journalists but supporters, and you provide a fair assessment of our basketball team.”
Dawn Staley closes out her final gaggle of the tournament thanking the local media.
“You guys know our team… you’re pretty fair with how you assess our basketball team. If every program had this, we could push women’s basketball forward on a local level across the country.” pic.twitter.com/TWG0oPdGlT
— Julia Westerman (@JuliaWesterman) April 6, 2025
Staley further emphasized the need for similar local coverage to help the sport grow: “So I really appreciate all of you. The coverage and support you provide through the media is invaluable. If every program had this, we could advance women’s basketball on a local level across the country.”
