“Royalty treatment only”: Fans endorse Dawn Staley’s dog Champ’s special ride

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley caused quite a stir on social media when she shared images of her pet dog Champ. On Thursday morning, Staley took the black and gray Havanese for a morning walk through the neighborhood and posted it on social media, garnering reactions from her fans.

"How we started and how we’re doing on this here morning. Champ Staley said you walk mommy and I ride!" Staley posted on both Instagram and X.

In the first picture, Champ is seen walking freely alongside the coach on the pavement, while the second photo shows him sitting in a stroller, enjoying the ride.

Fans expressed their delight seeing the pampered pup.

"Champ💪🏾 royalty treatment only lol 😂," one fan wrote.

"Beautiful. Miss my boy!! The best walks for sure!!" another one commented.

"Don’t forget, he needs to shed an lb or two….. me and Champ both!" a fan joked.

"I want to be Champ when I grow up 😋," one more added.

Meanwhile, fans also reacted to the same post on Instagram.

"The Champ is here!!! 😂❤️," one user said.

"Coach Champ is a Champ, maybe his nickname should be Dodgers. Much love to you both Champ and Coach all the way from Cali, I’m going back to bed now!!" another fan chimed in.

"So cuteee. Continued happiness together Coach!!" one more added.

"Hey Champ there’s a 🐐 behind you," a fan praised Dawn Staley.

Fans commented on Instagram (staley05/IG)

On Oct. 7, Dawn Staley celebrated Champ's birthday by posting a message on Instagram. She also added a couple of pictures and a video of him playing with a toy duck he received as a gift.

Dawn Staley breaks down the roster and each player's role

For the first time in the last decade, Dawn Staley's South Carolina will enter the season without any prominent center in the squad.

Kamilla Cardoso, a key figure for the Gamecocks' championship run last season, joined the WNBA team Chicago Sky. Staley failed to sign any big in the offseason, with only center Sakima Walker left on the roster.

"We don’t have a dominant big, right? We’ve had a dominant big for the last 10 years. Now we don’t," Staley said. "But we do have a collection of bigs who do things a lot differently than each other.

"I think Joyce (Edwards) can rebound. She actually is an aggressive rebounder. I think (Sania) Feagin has the experience. Chloe (Kitts) has gotten better."

The Gamecocks won both their exhibition games ahead of the new season that tips off on Nov. 4 against Michigan.