The 2025-26 college season’s motivation might be dethroning the record 12-championship holders, the Huskies. Very few teams are equipped to challenge them in the ongoing NCAA season, and Dawn Staley’s South Carolina is certainly one of them.
Even before the start of the season, the two sides showed what fans can expect from the season when Dawn Staley took subtle shots at trolls targeting the South Carolina Gamecocks. While she has a mountain to climb to overturn the Huskies’ record, Staley certainly worked her way to go on top against the Gamecocks’ rivals, the Clemson Tigers.
Dawn Staley Recalls Early Losses Against Rivals, Clemson Tigers
The three-time champions might be without Agot Makeer and Chloe Kitts, but the 55-year-old coach is ready to face her rivals. Staley shared an “not crying” update on Agot Makeer’s injury, as she got a different motivation while playing against the Clemson Tigers.
In the pre-game interview, Staley said, “I think just winning, continue to win (each rivalry game), and I think my first two years, losing to them was a big deal, like a real big deal. So that’s always in my brain and my heart when it comes to this rivalry game. So I always want to give us another Palmetto today.”
The former WNBA player lost the opening two games against the rivals and even had a 22-33 record against them, but currently holds a massive 14-0 run against them.
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In the 2025-26 game, the side handed her a 77-45 win, thanks to a strong second-half performance, and stayed undefeated in the season so far. Additionally, the win would help the school secure its first point of the Palmetto Series, as Clemson currently holds a 2-0 lead in this year’s multi-sports competition following wins by the men’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams.
Dawn Staley Remains Most Decorated Coach In South Carolina History
With the multitude of NCAA championships, Final Fours, and conference titles that she has won with the Gamecocks, Dawn Staley remains the most decorated coach in South Carolina history. She has guided the program to three NCAA championships (2017, 2022, 2024), seven Final Four appearances, and nine SEC regular-season and tournament crowns, standing as the winningest coach in program history.
In addition to her achievements with the team, Staley has numerous individual awards to her name, including seven-time SEC Coach of the Year, four-time Naismith Coach of the Year, and the only Black head coach of men’s or women’s basketball to have won multiple national championships.