dawn staley: "We have grown-up conversations and I can't believe it sometimes": Dawn Staley marvels at Chloe Kitts' growth at South Carolina

"We have grown-up conversations and I can't believe it sometimes": Dawn Staley marvels at Chloe Kitts' growth at South Carolina

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley talked about Chloe Kitts' maturity. - Source: Imagn

Dawn Staley and the No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks are back in the Final Four after defeating No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils 54-50 on Sunday. Chloe Kitts played a big part in the win as she scored a team-high 14 points, including two clutch free throws.

In the press conference after the game, Coach Staley detailed how much the junior forward has matured since she arrived at Columbia.

“She’s grown in every aspect of her life. Mentally, physically, emotionally. We have grown-up conversations and I can’t believe it sometimes because (of) how she came in. Now she is really thought-provoking. She is really asking all the right things,” Dawn Staley said (15:35).

With the score 52-50 in favor of the Lady Gamecocks late in the game, Chloe Kitts was fouled with five seconds left and faced two crucial shots from the line.

Even though Kitts called the free throws “scary”, she made them both, practically securing the Lady Gamecocks' trip to their fifth straight Final Four.

"I told myself that my coach wanted me to have the ball at the end of the game because she knew I could make my free throws. And I told myself that I'm really good at basketball, and I made both of them," Chloe Kitts said after the game.

With the win, the Lady Gamecocks will face the winner of Monday’s game between Texas and TCU for a spot in the national championship game. The national semifinals will be played on Friday, but the time will be announced after all four teams are determined.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina are looking to become the first back-to-back women's champions since the UConn Huskies won four straight from 2013 to 2016.

Dawn Staley signs baby after win

Athletes and coaches are usually asked to take pictures and sign apparel and souvenirs after important games. Probably only a few have been asked to sign a baby, but Dawn Staley has made that list.

After the win over Duke in the Birmingham Regional Final, a fan reached over with his baby in his hands and asked the South Carolina coach for an autograph.

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As seen on the video posted by the NCAA March Madness account, coach Staley obliged and signed the baby, in what was probably another first for the head coach.

About the author

Allan Wolburg Robles is a College Sports journalist at Sportskeeda with over 17 years of experience in the field writing for publications including Reforma, Yahoo! OddsShark and Apuesta. Allan studied Communications at Anáhuac University, where he learned what would become the basis of a trade that was already a dream of his before starting college.

His favorite team is Army West Point as when he was young, Allan lived in West Point for a couple of years, went to pretty much every home game, a couple of Army-Navy games and even got to meet some of the players.

Allan's favorite players of all time include Tommie Frazier, who was unbelievable during the Nebraska dynasty of the early 90's. Tim Tebow was also a favorite, mainly because of his leadership skills, although he was also awesome on the football field. As a fan of defensive football, (or what's left of it), Sean Taylor could take over a game for Miami.

Allan has always considered himself a student of the game more than a fan of it. So the historical part and evolution of the game, as well as the ins and outs of what happens on the field, and being able to put it into words for the audience, are his biggest strengths.

Besides sports, Allan enjoys reading books, watching movies and spending time with his dogs.

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Edited by Brad Taningco