Dawn Staley Chastises South Carolina Women's Basketball Team

Legendary basketball player and women’s coach, Dawn Staley had some words for her players after the way they have been carrying themselves against opponents in recent games.

According to The Mirror US, with the two recent games against North Carolina and Duke, Staley was disappointed in how the players on the South Carolina women’s basketball team have been acting towards their opponents. The team got the win but the trash-talking and skirmishes taking place are not acceptable to the coach. She expects the women to show more respect for the game while they are actively on the basketball court.

She said she had a talk with the team about their behavior and although they played with grit and heart, the trash-talking and the other extras were not necessary.

“Just being able to handle the moment in the way that we need to handle the moment [is important],” Staley said on Tuesday. “None of the extra stuff that went on. That’s just not characteristic of our team. So we addressed it; we’ll move on.

“We’ll respect the game and how to play it. Hopefully, that’s just a lesson learned. … I’m good without all the kisses and all of that crap. That’s not a part of who we are.”

Dawn Staley said some of what happened at UNC and Duke was “not characteristic of our team:”
“I’m good without all the kisses and all of that crap. That’s not a part of who we are… I didn’t get a good feeling so we addressed it, our players apologized for reacting that way.” pic.twitter.com/QemtfkHjTZ
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) December 5, 2023

The player who blew the kisses that Coach Staley was referring to was forward Chloe Kitts. At Sunday’s game against Duke, she blew a kiss at Jadyn Donovan after she made a jumper in front of her.

Kitts did have regrets for doing so as she told Greenville News. “I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I let the game come to me. That just happens, but it probably won’t happen again. … We played with each other at USA Basketball so there’s no hate. It’s all love.”

The Gamecocks, who are ranked number one in the nation will play Utah on Sunday, Dec. 10.

Dawn Staley Chastises South Carolina Women’s Basketball Team