"This one here deserves its own space": South Carolina HC Dawn Staley expresses her awe for Pharrell William's "infectious" energy

Dawn Staley led the South Carolina Gamecocks to the 2024 NCAA title in April and has been making the most of the off-season ever since. On June 23, she attended a Vogue World runway show in Paris.

A fashion fanatic herself, Staley had plenty to soak in at City Square. However, nothing came close to her meetup with musician Pharrell Williams, who gifted her a Louis Vuitton duffle bag. The instance prompted the championship coach to dedicate a separate post around her unexpected rendezvous, with the caption:

"This one here deserves its own space @Pharrell it was a true pleasure meeting you and your genius! And Helen. And s/o security brother for allowing me to get close enough to meet and thank Pharrell in person for “the bag.” Your energy is infectious!"

Williams' gesture resonates with the impact Dawn Staley has outside the sporting world. This is not the first time her excellence has made waves. After the coach won her third NCAA title this year, singer Beyonce gifted her and the Gamecocks crew with a bouquet and merchandise from her "Cowboy Carter" album. Moreover, there was a personal note to congratulate the program.

Former LSU star Angel Reese considered playing for Dawn Staley before Kim Mulkey

Just as she is doing in the WNBA, Angel Reese immediately made her presence known when she began playing for LSU at the collegiate level. However, her team-up with Hailey Van Lith and Kim Mulkey was not an immediate decision.

After spending two years in Maryland, the Chicago Sky star was initially hooked on playing for Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks for her junior year. However, in an episode of the "I Am Athlete" podcast, she said that her unnamed childhood teammate invited her to visit the university in Baton Rouge.

Reese felt like an immediate fit with LSU and got a starting role. She averaged more than 30 minutes of playing time with 20.8 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals, while making more than 50% of her shots during her two years with the program.