3x national champ Dawn Staley receives admiration from Arkansas transfer Maryam Dauda - “I was star struck”

Arkansas transfer Maryam Dauda is deep into the foundations of Dawn Staley's program. She averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Razorbacks last season, including a 21-point career-best outing against Tulsa Golden in the Hogs' season-ending WBIT loss. She declared her transfer to South Carolina in May and has been part of numerous practices and outings with the new roster since then.

As Dauda continues learning the ropes of the Gamecocks' winning culture, she revisited the moment she first saw Dawn Staley during an interview with ABC Columbia's Chaz R Frazier:

"The first time I came into practice and coach Staley came up to me, I was so star-struck because I was like, 'She is my coach and everything,'" Dauda said. "I just felt like after that moment, I talked about it with my parents, I'm getting coached by the best. Playing with the best, I'm playing against the best every day in practice and that is setting in for me and I'm loving it," she added.

Even though her season stat line may not stand out, Dauda is a high-impact player who can deliver valuable minutes right away. She was the most efficient player on Arkansas’ roster last season and led the program in blocks and offensive rebounds.

This makes her an immediate fit into Dawn Staley’s system. South Carolina did not have an offensive leader last season and mounted an undefeated championship solely behind teamwork and camaraderie. Their NCAA games featured four different players emerging as game-high scorers throughout the tournament.

Dawn Staley's roster forced Maryam Dauda to witness a different side of her game

One of the reasons Dawn Staley garnered her third championship last season was the defensive tenacity of her squad and the ability to play through physicality on both ends of the floor.

Dauda averaged 2.2 blocks and 6.3 rebounds as the fifth scoring option for the Razorbacks last season. Had she been on the Gamecocks last season, she would have been their second-best defensive scorer behind Kamilla Cardoso, who was selected No. 3 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft. Nevertheless, she believes there is a lot of necessary improvement in her game in terms of strength and being an overall defensive player.

How do you think Dauda and the Gamecocks will fare next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.