WATCH: Dawn Staley’s South Carolina participates in fun game for Christmas

Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team, ranked No. 2 in the nation, remains a favorite to claim the 2025 NCAA National Championship. Despite a single loss on their record, Staley’s squad features 10 players who have cemented South Carolina’s status as a top contender.

Meanwhile, the Gamecocks embraced the holiday spirit in a fun and playful way. The official Instagram page of South Carolina Women’s Basketball shared a delightful video captioned:

"Rules and how to win were explained and then ... daycare 🤷‍♀️."

The clip showed players participating in a game of rock-paper-scissors while hopping over sports cones on their basketball court. The coach and players alike joined in the fun. Many team members commented on the post, admitting they weren't particularly skilled at the game.

Dawn Staley joins Gamecocks football practice

Earlier this week, South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley visited the Gamecocks' football team during their Sunday practice. The football team, boasting a 9-3 record, was preparing for its Citrus Bowl matchup against Illinois on Dec. 31. South Carolina football head coach Shane Beamer shared Staley's visit on X (formerly Twitter), posting two photos of her with the team.

“We brought in @dawnstaley to give the same message to our @GamecockFB TEAM this morning before our last practice before Christmas break,” Beamer wrote.

Staley responded enthusiastically:

“IT’S ALL ABOUT US GAMECOCKS, coach!”

This isn’t the first time Staley has offered her insights to the Gamecocks football team. In April, she spoke at their spring practice, solidifying her relationship with Beamer. Beamer has frequently praised Staley’s leadership and is vocal about their friendship as coaches. He even attended the women’s basketball team’s 2024 national championship in Cleveland.

Before their holiday break, the Gamecocks demonstrated their prowess with an 82-46 victory over Charleston Southern on Dec. 19, taking their record to 11-1. They will resume play on Dec. 29 against Wofford, with the game set to air on the SEC Network at 2 p.m.