Dawn Staley has been among the nation’s best collegiate coaches, leading South Carolina to three NCAA women’s basketball championships and eight Final Four appearances over 18 seasons as the Gamecocks’ head coach.
Staley, a former WNBA player, mentored several Gamecocks alumnae, including four-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, and Golden State Valkyries forward Laeticia Amihere.
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Dawn Staley Shows Support For Former Gamecocks In Fever-Dream Game
On Saturday, Staley was in Atlanta, Georgia, to watch the regular-season clash between the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever. Not only that, the veteran mentor had the chance to reconnect with seven of her former players who took the court at State Farm Arena.
Staley sat courtside to support seven of her former players who suited up for the regular-season matchup. The Fever featured Gamecocks standouts Aliyah Boston, Tyasha Harris, Bree Hall, and rookie Raven Johnson, while the Dream featured Allisha Gray, Te-Hina Paopao, and rookie Madina Okot.
Staley, who brought the 2026-27 South Carolina women’s basketball team to the game, cheered for her former players. She and assistant coach Lisa Boyer shared a moment with Gray, Paopao, and Okot, which was posted on the WNBA’s X account.
The veteran coach also posted a photo on her X account showing former South Carolina teammates Johnson and Paopao guarding each other in the game.
Six of the seven former Gamecocks saw playing time for each team, with Gray appearing in 33 minutes and finishing with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, and 1 block to help the Dream beat the Fever, 113-96.
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Paopao was given 16 minutes and contributed nine points and 2 assists, while Okot recorded 3 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal.
Boston played 22 minutes for the Fever, recording 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Johnson added nine points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in 21 minutes. Harris had a seven-minute appearance for the Fever but was called for two fouls. Hall did not play a single minute for Indiana.
Staley and the Gamecocks are preparing for the 2026-27 season, aiming to win their fourth women’s college basketball championship. They finished as runners-up in the 2025 and 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournaments and are determined to reclaim their throne.
