"She's a bear to deal with": Dawn Staley makes her feelings known on Tennessee star Talaysia Cooper's breakout season

After a huge win against No. 5 LSU on Friday, Dawn Staley and South Carolina turn their attention to a key SEC road test against No. 17 Tennessee on Monday night. Talaysia Cooper, a former South Carolina player, has emerged as a star for the Lady Vols this season, and Staley had some pointed comments about her.

During her media availability at practice on Sunday, coach Staley was asked about Cooper's breakout sophomore season at Tennessee.

"Great player, we recruit great players, we have great players in our program. And I'm happy for Coop (Talaysia Cooper). I'm really happy that she's found her happy place," Staley said (3:15).

"I mean, she is a bear to deal with because she can do it all. She can defend, she can score at three levels, she can play multiple positions. And I think the style of play fits perfectly for her."

Cooper joined Dawn Staley's Gamecocks as one of the top point guards in the nation in 2022. In her freshman season, the 6-foot star did not start any games, playing just 8.4 minutes per game and averaging 2.9 points.

After just one season at South Carolina, Cooper elected to transfer to Tennessee. She had to sit out the entire 2023-24 season due to NCAA transfer rules but has exploded onto the scene in Knoxville this campaign.

The redshirt sophomore is leading the Lady Vols in scoring at 17.8 points per game, along with 5.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Dawn Staley shares insight on how the Tennessee game will unfold

Dawn Staley's No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks are unbeaten in 14 games. They have steamrolled their way through the early part of the SEC schedule, including wins over several ranked opponents in the last five games.

In the Monday matchup against Tennessee (15-4, 3-4 SEC) at Thompson–Boling Arena, the coach expects a tight battle.

"I got to think it's going to be a close game," Dawn Staley said (0:44). "Hard to win on the road. Different style, we'll probably take a little bit to adjust to, but we got to make them adjust to us.

"The whole objective is for us to adjust to them, and then somewhere in the middle, a team is going to have a run. I just hope it's us."

Tennessee, led by first-season coach Kim Caldwell, had a great start, going 13-0, but has since lost four conference games, including a home loss to LSU on Jan. 9.