2024-2025 WBB Team (2022-present)

[Brian Shoemaker]

Here are some stories from the On3 news desk...

Raven Johnson gives spicy reasoning behind motivation to shut down Caitlin Clark

After South Carolina's win over Iowa in the national championship, Raven Johnson pulled back the curtain on her defensive masterclass.

www.on3.com

Samuel L. Jackson congratulates Dawn Staley, South Carolina on undefeated national title

Jackson shared a tweet for Staley and South Carolina after their title win to make them undefeated national champions.

www.on3.com

South Carolina completes undefeated season with national championship win vs. Iowa

South Carolina completed its undefeated season by defeating Iowa to win its second national championship in three years.

www.on3.com

Dawn Staley cuts down nets following third national championship win for South Carolina

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley takes place in the iconic tradition of cutting down the nets following her national championship win.

www.on3.com

Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson praise Dawn Staley, South Carolina culture

After South Carolina's 87-75 win over Iowa, Te-Hina Paopao and Tessa Johnson raved about the Gamecocks' team culture.

www.on3.com

 

[Gamecock Lincoln]

 

[Gamecock Lincoln]

 

[Hank Williams]

The emotional display by Dawn and Raven declaring that the revenge tour is over emphasized how devastating the Iowa loss was to the team and staff last year. I'm glad the returning players and Dawn have found closure with this win.

It was great team effort today and this season Tessa has been my favorite player but today Raven gets the nod for her defensive efforts. She frustrated Caitlin Clark to having a poor shooting percentage performance. Concerning the MVP I would give it to all of the team members. Everybody made it possible for us to win the championship.

 

[Brian Shoemaker]

Darius Rucker congratulates Dawn Staley, South Carolina on national championship

South Carolina native and country music star Darius Rucker sent his congratulations to Dawn Staley and the team on their national title.

www.on3.com

 

[Prestonyte]

Deion Sanders, Magic Johnson's message to South Carolina's Dawn Staley after national title

South Carolina Gamecocks head honcho Dawn Staley got a lot of love from A'ja Wilson, Magic Johnson, and Deion Sanders.

clutchpoints.com

 

[Brian Shoemaker]

 

[DarkCock]

 

[Brian Shoemaker]

@TN-Gamecock ... I know you renamed this thread, but would you like to start a new thread for the 2024-25 team?

 

[Brian Shoemaker]

Angel Reese applauds Dawn Staley, South Carolina after national championship

Reese clapped for Staley and the newly-crowned Gamecocks on social media after defeating Iowa in the national title game on Sunday.

www.on3.com

 

[Brian Shoemaker]

Putting South Carolina's national championship into perspective

Putting South Carolina's historic season into perspective after winning Sunday's national championship against Iowa.

www.on3.com

South Carolina women's basketball: The Payback - Raven Johnson gets her revenge

Raven Johnson's revenge tour ended with the ultimate revenge and the game of her life as she led South Carolina to an undefeated season.

www.on3.com

 

[Uscg1984]

View attachment 553539

Wait, you mean we won without being a Nike school? I thought that wasn't possible.

 

[Beanerball]

Damn our girls are good. Too big to guard inside, too fast to guard on the drive, and then too many who can shoot the 3’s. And then there’s defense. Just way too deep and talented to handle. All we need for next year is a decent center to replace Cardoso, but I’m sure Dawn will find a much better replacement than decent.

 

[Cockburn]

on a team with Cardoso, Paopao, Fulwiley, Raven, and the rest, Tessa Johnson led the undefeated national champs in scoring off the bench in the elite 8 & national championship games.

This is another reminder that she did not make the SEC all Freshmen team.

 

[winloseortie]

@TN-Gamecock ... I know you renamed this thread, but would you like to start a new thread for the 2024-25 team?

Please, no. This thread has over 9,000 posts and is the longest running thread on this site. It is a chronicle of the team and hard core fans who love our Gamecock WBB.

 

[Gamekem]

#5 recruit for 2026 dad seems pretty excited.

 

[CockyGirl]

Whew just got back to the hotel and trying to read through all the comments. That was an experience I’ll never forget! So happy that all the key players came up big in moments whether it was in the semi-final or championship game. I watched Chloe cry on the bench during Fridays game bc of her lack of playing time. So to see her today contribute in such an impactful way made me so proud. And Tessa and Raven were on another level today. All the girls should feel like they had a hand in this championship! Go Cocks!!!!

 

[mickray]

Damn our girls are good. Too big to guard inside, too fast to guard on the drive, and then too many who can shoot the 3’s. And then there’s defense. Just way too deep and talented to handle. All we need for next year is a decent center to replace Cardoso, but I’m sure Dawn will find a much better replacement than decent.

Tran's is next...then men's

 

[vacock]

I see here that KC got the MVP but I can’t find it on the internet. Got a link? Thanks

This is the only one I found so far.

South Carolina defeats Iowa to win the women's NCAA basketball championship

The undefeated Gamecocks won their third NCAA title, and denied Iowa star Caitlin Clark's last chance at the ring. Even with the league's top player, Iowa was no match for South Carolina's teamwork.

www.ideastream.org

 

[Uscg1984]

Whew just got back to the hotel and trying to read through all the comments. That was an experience I’ll never forget! So happy that all the key players came up big in moments whether it was in the semi-final or championship game. I watched Chloe cry on the bench during Fridays game bc of her lack of playing time. So to see her today contribute in such an impactful way made me so proud. And Tessa and Raven were on another level today. All the girls should feel like they had a hand in this championship! Go Cocks!!!!

That has been what was so amazing about this team all year. It's no secret that we had tremendous depth, but it literally seemed like a different player was the star every night. After Watkins' 20-rebound performance against NC State, I felt it was very important that she have a big game today. But as it turned out, she had a pretty quiet night. But I was not counting on Tessa to step up with 19 points! This is the first team I've ever seen where a star player or two can have bad shooting nights, yet the team never skips a beat. I think it was the Oregon State coach who said it best. To beat Carolina, you have to check 10 out of 10 boxes. If you only check 9 of them, they will beat you.

 

[winloseortie]

I know Caitlin Clark is all that and a bag of chips to boot. She has changed the game and deserves all that praise and should be the #1 pick.

That said, can we look at her numbers for the FF?
17-46 from the field 37%
8-24 from 3pt 33%
9-11 from ft 82%
8.5 reb per game
6 assists per game

VERY pedestrian shooting numbers. If those numbers had no name attached you would scoff and say volume shooter.

I think the reason is at least twofold. She ran into teams that knew how to scheme her and had the talent to pull off the plan. She will face that every night in the WNBA. This also just begs the question, who drew up the LSU game plan? With all their physical talent, your best scheme is HVL going under picks.

Second, she really has NO help on that Iowa team. It is amazing how well and how far her talent and mere presence carries that Iowa team. She has nobody on that team that can get their own shot. No post presence that can say, “Throw me the ball. I’ll get us a bucket.” It’s all predicated on her.

Bluder’s system and schemes leveraged Iowa to be far better offensively than their talent. She turned one dimensional players into threats.” Surround Clark with talent and she will be more disciplined and effective on shot selection. Talented teammates will make her even more dangerous.

She is great and will be great in the WNBA.

 

[Uscg1984]

I know Caitlin Clark is all that and a bag of chips to boot. She has changed the game and deserves all that praise and should be the #1 pick.

That said, can we look at her numbers for the FF?
17-46 from the field 37%
8-24 from 3pt 33%
9-11 from ft 82%
8.5 reb per game
6 assists per game

Clark was actually better from the 3-point arc in this game (5 of 13, 38%) than she was in our game last year when she went 5 of 17 (29%). There is a strong psychological impact that comes from one of her logo 3-pointers, but the simple fact is that she isn't going to beat teams with our talent by launching tons of threes. She depends on that psychological impact to draw defenses out so she can use her superior passing skills to hit wide-open cutters for easy crap baskets. We didn't allow that to happen as often this year (5 assists compared to 8 last year) and we scooped up most of the rebounds.

 

[YankeeRooster]

Nevertheless, I'll always hurt for the Freshies, and not only because of last year.

King, get some happy in your life….

 

[YankeeRooster]

Winning is all that matters. This was solid. But your observation makes it obvious that a rout was in the offing.

You ever get tired of trying so hard to build diction? I’m serious, you try too hard.

 

[winloseortie]

King, get some happy in your life….

Just for you @YankeeRooster

 

[winloseortie]

The three headed monster of Watkins, Kitts, and Feagin playing the 4 and back up 5 combined averaged 17 pts and 23 rebounds per game in FF


Cardoso averaged 19 pts and 13 rebounds

 

[USCEDGE]

Whew just got back to the hotel and trying to read through all the comments. That was an experience I’ll never forget! So happy that all the key players came up big in moments whether it was in the semi-final or championship game. I watched Chloe cry on the bench during Fridays game bc of her lack of playing time. So to see her today contribute in such an impactful way made me so proud. And Tessa and Raven were on another level today. All the girls should feel like they had a hand in this championship! Go Cocks!!!!

Glad you were able to attend to witness your team dominate!! Have a safe trip back....

 

[TN-Gamecock]

@TN-Gamecock ... I know you renamed this thread, but would you like to start a new thread for the 2024-25 team?

No...I think the fans like this thread. It's a work in progress that hopefully will be on here for many years to come. Fans can go back and see what was said and posted about the freshies. Can't wait to see how this board grows over next year as we will be pre-season #1.

Thanks anyway!!! TN

 

[CWW]

Many shots of Darius Rucker in the stands during the game. Sure wish they could have had him at mid court singing ‘Let HerCry’ while they showed Clark going to the locker room.

I believe the last National Championship he was on tour. We won and he said never again would he miss a USC final game.

 

[CWW]

Kamilla Cardoso - two time National champ, all American, final 4 MVP, and future 1st rd WNBA draft pick

“ya know she’s still really not that good” - @Evilchicken somewhere (I kid, I kid )

go cocks !

 

[winloseortie]

In other news UT writer looks at their hire

I thought Tennessee Lady Vols basketball hiring Kim Caldwell was a joke. Why it just might work | Adams

New Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell wouldn't be the first coach to skips steps on way to top.

www.knoxnews.com

 

[winloseortie]

Last 1:40 of the second quarter defined the rest of the game.
Raven had 2 steals against Clark, blocked her shot, scored a basket and assisted on another

 

[KingWard]

Tran's is next...then men's

I think probably not.

 

[KingWard]

Please, no. This thread has over 9,000 posts and is the longest running thread on this site. It is a chronicle of the team and hard core fans who love our Gamecock WBB.

Agree. It's almost like a page unto itself - a one-thread page.

 

[DrMickeySC]

So, I actually missed the first quarter yesterday. I watched extended highlights, and I’ve got to say…
That could have gone south on us quickly. When Iowa went up 10-0, the roof almost came off of the building. I am so impressed that our ladies dug in and dug out of the hole. And we did it without just launching a bunch of 3s at that time (of course we did later to much success). And, that entire first half was just amazing basketball. So much fun.

 

[Brian Shoemaker]

Scott Davis: This one's for the family

A word from Dawn Staley changed the way we thought about South Carolina women’s basketball and the way we thought about ourselves.

www.on3.com

 

[Brian Shoemaker]

South Carolina women's basketball: First look at next season

What will the Gamecocks look like next season" We take an early look at how South Carolina will try to defend its championship.

www.on3.com

 

[DarkCock]

I know Caitlin Clark is all that and a bag of chips to boot. She has changed the game and deserves all that praise and should be the #1 pick.

That said, can we look at her numbers for the FF?
17-46 from the field 37%
8-24 from 3pt 33%
9-11 from ft 82%
8.5 reb per game
6 assists per game

VERY pedestrian shooting numbers. If those numbers had no name attached you would scoff and say volume shooter.

I think the reason is at least twofold. She ran into teams that knew how to scheme her and had the talent to pull off the plan. She will face that every night in the WNBA. This also just begs the question, who drew up the LSU game plan? With all their physical talent, your best scheme is HVL going under picks.

Second, she really has NO help on that Iowa team. It is amazing how well and how far her talent and mere presence carries that Iowa team. She has nobody on that team that can get their own shot. No post presence that can say, “Throw me the ball. I’ll get us a bucket.” It’s all predicated on her.

Bluder’s system and schemes leveraged Iowa to be far better offensively than their talent. She turned one dimensional players into threats.” Surround Clark with talent and she will be more disciplined and effective on shot selection. Talented teammates will make her even more dangerous.

She is great and will be great in the WNBA.

Agreed that I probably gained more respect for her after she didn't shoot well. It's a reminder that she's one 6ft player. She can't rebound or block shots. Against an elite defense and rebounding team like our team, no one else stepped up to take up the slack.




I don't know...Maybe she was exhausted from carrying the team on her back all season. I doubt this comment reflects the majority of Iowa fans. There's always 'that guy' on every message board. No doubt evilchicken would have been on here saying how he told us that Cardoso was awful if we had lost.

 

[KingWard]

So, I actually missed the first quarter yesterday. I watched extended highlights, and I’ve got to say…
That could have gone south on us quickly. When Iowa went up 10-0, the roof almost came off of the building. I am so impressed that our ladies dug in and dug out of the hole. And we did it without just launching a bunch of 3s at that time (of course we did later to much success). And, that entire first half was just amazing basketball. So much fun.

The first five minutes were alarming, but no panic ensued and superiority ultimately prevailed.

 

[Uscg1984]

Last 1:40 of the second quarter defined the rest of the game.
Raven had 2 steals against Clark, blocked her shot, scored a basket and assisted on another

Yes. I'm not sure it was a "turning point," and I certainly couldn't say that's the moment when I felt confident we would win, but that was clearly a defining moment in the game. I think that was the point where it became obvious that Iowa was going to have to do more than they had done thus far if they expected to win this game. We had taken their very best shot and were now in control of the game.