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WATCH: Deion Sanders sends congratulatory message to Dawn Staley, South Carolina women's basketball

On3 imageby: Tyler Mansfield04/04/22TMansfieldMedia
On3 image
David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It one thing’s for certain, it’s that Deion Sanders is a big-time fan of South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley. A former standout NFL player who’s now the head coach at Jackson State, Sanders took to Twitter on Monday morning to send a congratulatory message to Staley after she and her team won the NCAA women’s tournament national championship on Sunday night.

“Coach Staley – hey,” Sanders said. “Girl, I love you, I appreciate you, I adore you. What you did – you are changing the whole though process of women’s basketball. You doing it. I’m so darn proud of you. You are the example, you are the gold, you are the temple, you are that girl … and I love your swag.

“Your words, your thoughts, everything you speak, everything you spoke on the podium was excellent. Sister, I love you and I appreciate you – and you keep on pushing the envelope and opening doors for us. We appreciate you. Go Gamecocks women’s basketball! Yeah!”

South Carolina defeated UConn, 64-49, on Sunday night to capture the national championship and cap off an incredible 35-2 season. The win marked Staley’s second national title with the Gamecocks – and improved her overall record to 366-105 in 14 seasons.

While Staley has had much success at South Carolina and been labeled as one of the best coaches in the country, she’s also been widely regarded for her work in bringing more exposure to the game of women’s college basketball – and women’s sports in general.

WATCH: Dawn Staley cuts down the net after national championship

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley made history on Sunday night when the Gamecocks defeated UConn in the national championship game. After becoming the first Black coach in NCAA men’s or women’s basketball to win multiple titles, she celebrated with her team by cutting down the net.

After wearing a designer jacket during the game, Staley switched into a national championship t-shirt as she spoke into a camera about her emotions while hugging Cocky the Gamecock in front of the ladder where players prepared to cut down the net. Her pride on top of the ladder was clear.

After taking the net off the rim, she turned around toward her team to celebrate. Listening to the in-arena music, she started dancing on top of the ladder with the net around her net while smiling and laughing.