Dawn Staley cuts down nets following third national championship win for South Carolina

After being eliminated from the Final Four by Iowa last year, the South Carolina Gamecocks came back this season with a vengeance. Completing their perfect 38-0 season on Sunday with an 87-75 win over the Hawkeyes in the national championship game to complete their revenge tour.

The national title win represents the third in South Carolina’s school history, all led by head coach Dawn Staley. Who’s helped elevate the Gamecocks’ program into a different stratosphere and joined rare company historically with her third national championship.

Another ring also means another net cutting for Staley, as she took part of one of college basketball’s best traditions for the third time in her career in a historic moment that can be seen below.

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Staley becomes just the ninth head coach across men’s and women’s college basketball to lead a team to an undefeated season capped off with a national championship win. Also tying Tara VanDerveer with three national championships in the women’s game now only trailing Kim Mulkey, Pat Summitt, and Geno Auriemma all time.

Last season Staley and the Gamecocks looked to repeat as national champions after taking home the title in the 2021-2022 season. But falling to the Hawkeyes last year only made things even sweeter for Staley after her team found themselves on the winning side of things versus Iowa, this time on the biggest stage for women’s college basketball.

“Before I do anything I gotta give honor to the most high God for allowing us to be back at the same place in which we had sad tears,” Stalley said during the trophy presentation. “And I just want you to know that the God I serve when he closes a door, he opens up a door that’s giving you unimaginable success. This is uncommon favor.”

Staley adds another big-time accomplishment to her impressive resume, boasting a 612–186 career record between her time head coaching at Temple and South Carolina. Named the Naismith Coach of the Year for a fourth time this year after leading South Carolina to their eighth SEC regular season and tournament titles.

Freshman Tessa Johnson and Kamilla Cardoso headlined South Carolina’s latest national title win, with Johnson leading all Gamecocks with a career-high 19 points off the bench while Cardoso achieved her 16th double-double of the year with 15 points and 17 rebounds in the season finale.