"The only team that beat us last year": Dawn Staley shows heartfelt gratitude on South Carolina NCAA Ring Ceremony night

Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks won the national championship last season with a perfect 38-0 record. On Monday, they were honored with special commemorative rings.

Staley spoke to the gathering during the ceremony, thanking the fans for their unwavering support. At the same time, she also expressed her gratitude to the extra staff on the team.

"I want to thank you from all of us, you know, thank the highlighters and our managers for pouring into us as well because again, they were the only team that beat us last year," Coach Staley said (15:22). "They were the only team that beat us last year, so we just want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

In March, after the Sweet 16 round win over the Indiana Hoosiers, coach Staley highlighted the vital role that the male practice players, called highlighters, play for the team.

"I have to credit our male practice squad, the Highlighters," Staley said. "The Highlighters are really, really, really good. Although a lot of times they beat us in practice, a lot of times they beat us, so it makes it easier when we're able to just come out and play our competition.

"Because the Highlighters, no matter what the speed of our opponents is, they're much quicker," she added. "They do [everything] at a much faster pace. So, they've allowed us to see the game a little slower [because women's] teams aren't as quick as our Highlighters."

Dawn Staley and South Carolina bounce back after major loss

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley gives instructions to her players during a break in a game (Credits: IMAGN)

South Carolina's 2024-25 season was off to a great start with continuous wins and they maintained their No. 1 ranking. However, things changed on Nov. 24 when the Gamecocks lost their first game in over a year. UCLA took the 77-62 win and South Carolina dropped a few spots in the ranking.

Coach Staley praised his team's resilience after their 76-36 win over Iowa State.

"That's what a team does," Staley said. "This is a resilient group, this is a team that obviously hasn't dealt with a while lot of losing. But, it'll shake you for a moment. That 24-hour rule, bask in the glory of a defeat, and you handle a defeat and you handle it with grace, but you handle it with learning lessons.

Dawn Staley's team is now ranked No. 3 after the victories over Iowa State and Purdue. They will next play against Duke on Thursday.