When Dawn Staley addressed Kamilla Cardoso’s ugly altercation during South Carolina’s win over Kim Mulkey’s LSU

A brawl broke out during the 2024 SEC championship game on March 10 between Dawn Staley's South Carolina and Kim Mulkey's LSU. After a failed play, Flau'jae Johnson bumped Ashlyn Watkins on her way to the bench. This led 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso to run toward 5-foot-10 Johnson and shove her to the floor, sparking a ruckus in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Six players were ejected from the game with 2:08 left in the title game and Cardoso was handed a one-game suspension. In the post-game conference, Staley noted that the players failed to maintain their composure in the heat of the contest. With that, she thanked the officials for neutralizing the situation professionally.

"What you saw were two highly competitive teams that tried to win a conference championship and they did not handle it well. Our players didn't, their players didn't and it escalated," Staley said (Timestamp: 1:40).

"I want to thank the officials and everybody that jumped in and just calmed the situation down. And then the penalties were what they were. They were well within the rules of ejecting the players that left the bench. Even if they just stepped over the line of the bench you can't, you have to sit there and keep your composure."

Alongside Kamilla Cardoso, Dawn Staley saw Chloe Kitts, Sakima Walker and Tessa Johnson ejected from the game. LSU's Janae Kent and Aalyah Del Rosario were also shown the exit for leaving the bench during the altercation.

Flau'jae Johnson's brother, Trayron Milton, was arrested by the Greenville Police Department for assault and battery and disorderly conduct. He stepped over an SEC employee to jump over to the sideline and briefly confronted Cardoso.

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Flau'jae Johnson apologized to Dawn Staley after the incident

The LSU guard apologized to Dawn Staley after the Gamecocks won the contest 79-72. Having been a player herself, Staley understands the sense of heightened emotions that can stem from certain moments on the court. With that, she praised Johnson's willingness and maturity in the post-game conference.

"Flau'jae came to me after the game, right after the game and she just apologized and said she's not that type of player and I really appreciate that," she said (2:28). "There's something that somebody won't ever hear if I didn't say anything and she's a really good person, things just got escalated."

Moreover, Kamilla Cardoso issued an apology to the fans and authorities through a post on X.

Dawn Staley and Kim Mulkey are slated for a rematch on Friday. LSU will take its undefeated record to the Colonial Life Arena while South Carolina will bring its experience of facing eight ranked teams this season.