South Carolina Chasing Back-to-Back Titles and Third in Four Years

TAMPA — Dawn Staley is in the business of winning, and business is good for her Gamecocks. 

Staley’s team has made it to the Final Four for the last five years. Their 74-57 win over Texas Friday night puts them back in the NCAA title game for the third time in four years with a chance at the program’s fourth title. 

“I don’t even bring it up,” Staley said of her team’s success rate in NCAA championship games. “Nothing that happened prior to here is going to help us on Sunday. Nothing. If it’s UConn, it’s not going to help us. If it’s UCLA, it’s not going to help us. Playing in the game and seeing how the game is being played out is the only thing that’s going to help us.” 

“Saying that we’re undefeated in national championship games, I wish it helped. I wish they would spot us 10 points because we’re undefeated. I’d feel really good about that,” said Staley to laughter. 

Nearly 30% of brackets predicted South Carolina over Texas in the Final Four out of 3.4 million filed. 

Texas lost only three games this season, all of them to South Carolina. Senior guard Rori Harmon will have 48 hours to declare for the WNBA draft or make the decision to return to college for her final year of eligibility. She said it’s a family decision and one she wasn’t ready to share with the public.