Dawn Staley makes her feelings known on South Carolina's Maddy McDaniel and Joyce Edwards

South Carolina's freshman recruits, Maddy McDaniel and Joyce Edwards, have played a crucial role in the team's 11-1 run this season. Edwards is averaging 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.7 steals, while McDaniel is averaging 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals.

The Gamecocks prepare for their return to playing after the holiday break on Sunday against Wofford. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley talked to the media on Saturday and was asked about the freshmen's performances until now.

"Great. I mean, they're high intelligent young people," Staley said. "They are hardworking young people, they're highly motivated young people and when you have those attributes doesn't matter what you're doing. They just happen to be playing basketball."

"But, you know, Joyce likes sustainability. Maddy likes fashion. They will be the most efficient and the most well dressed when it comes to that, but they happen to be on our team and they're lifting up our team. They're elevating our team to a place where you know both of them will make our opponent's scouting report, and that's a great thing."

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Dawn Staley comments on Joyce Edwards' restricted minutes

Despite being one of the best players in an inconsistent South Carolina roster, Joyce Edwards plays an average of 19.8 minutes while mostly coming off the bench as she started in just one of the 12 games she's played. While some players would complain, Dawn Staley revealed in an interview that the forward is not one to do so.

Speaking to the media after Edwards' 20 points and six rebounds performance against Charleston Southern on Dec. 19, coach Staley said:

"So no, she's not one that complains. I think we do a really good job at explaining to our players, in real time, and we don't give them time to go back and think about you know what we meant by this or that.

"Real time we are handling situations so they can deal with them in real time. Because when you don't, they go back, they hear other people say what should be happening and less on what we're saying so we just get it out and we move on. And we have short memories when it comes to it, we hit it and we move."

The Gamecocks are on an attempt to defend their 2024 national championship win and players like Joyce Edwards will play a crucial role in the post-season run.