“Caitlin Clark is a different guard”: $12 million worth Dawn Staley separates Madison Booker from ex-Iowa star; shares insights to stop Texas

Dawn Staley and No. 2 South Carolina will be put to the test on January 12 when they face No. 5 Texas. Sophomore guard Madison Booker has emerged as the biggest threat in the Longhorns' roster this season and the Gamecocks' chances of success this Sunday will rely on their ability to contain her.

Following the Gamecocks' practice session on January 10, Staley was quizzed on the possibility of dealing with Booker the same way her side dealt with ex-Iowa star Caitlin Clark during the national championship game on April 7, 2024.

Staley, worth $12 million (per Celebrity Net Worth), said they need to be treated differently given the differences in the teams.

"Caitlin's a different guard, she's a totally different guard," Dawn Staley said (1:51). "I think, with Texas, they like fluidity and cadence, and they like ball reversals. And that's the nature of being good offense is when you can have multiple people touch the ball and you reverse the ball, it increases your shooting percentage.

"So, we got to disrupt that somehow, some way. I think we did a really good job yesterday with that, so we just need another performance like that."

A key part of the Gamecocks' success in the national championship game last season was their ability to restrict Caitlin Clark in the second half. Although she finished with 30 points, Clark shot 10 for 28 from the field, as the Gamecocks enjoyed their second national championship in three seasons with an 87-75 victory over Iowa last April.

The Gamecocks became only the fifth program in NCAA history and the first since the 2015-16 UConn Huskies to go undefeated and win the national championship last season.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina make a strong start to national championship defence

The Gamecocks have an impressive 15-1 overall record this season, and, like the Longhorns, are undefeated in conference play. Although they have scored ranked wins over Duke and TCU, South Carolina's 62-77 defeat to UCLA on November 24 saw the Bruins replace them at the top of the AP Top 25.

The Longhorns have tallied a 16-1 overall record, with Booker playing a key part in their success. The AP Preseason All-American has averaged 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

The game between Dawn Staley's team and the Longhorns on January 12 will tip off at 1:00PM ET.