In Pics: Dawn Staley's South Carolina draws surprise visit from basketball legend & Hall of Famer coach

Dawn Staley's South Carolina is set to kick off their season against Michigan on Monday, November 4. Simultaneously, they’ve been taking advantage of their time in Las Vegas to enjoy the sights before the big game. Under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks are eager to make a statement this season.

The team is in the spotlight for the prestigious Lisa Leslie Award, which honors the best centers in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. The award is named after the legendary three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year and is now in its seventh year.

In a thrilling moment, the team received an unexpected visit from basketball legend and Hall of Fame coach, Lisa Leslie. The meeting was posted on Instagram by Basketball HOF with the caption:

"@lisaleslie making a surprise visit at @gamecockwbb practice."

As the defending national champions, the Gamecocks aim to maintain their status at the top of women’s college basketball.

A national committee of esteemed basketball personnel has compiled a watch list of 20 candidates for this year’s Lisa Leslie Award. The winner will be revealed on a date yet to be announced, along with other notable awards recognizing the top players at each position.

These include the Nancy Lieberman Award for best point guard, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for shooting guards, the Cheryl Miller Award for small forwards, and the Katrina McClain Award for power forwards. The awards will also honor the Men’s Starting Five, celebrating excellence across the board in college basketball.

Dawn Staley takes selfies with Adele

Outside of basketball, Coach Dawn Staley took a break to attend a concert by renowned singer Adele at Caesars Palace. Staley enjoyed the show, where Adele performed her iconic hits to a delighted audience.

A memorable moment occurred during the song “When We Were Young,” when Adele engaged with fans, including Staley, taking selfies as she moved through the crowd.

Dawn Staley took to social media to express her excitement, writing:

“CHEESE on 1 2 3 and 4 @Adele . Thank you for an awesome show! Show 94 was amazing! You are amazing! You are fun loving! You made us all feel you!”

As the Gamecocks prepare for their matchup against Michigan, they enter the season ranked No. 1 in the nation.

The highly anticipated matchup is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 4, and the Gamecocks are ready to showcase their skills on a national platform.