WATCH: Dawn Staley cuts down the net after national championship

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley made history on Sunday night when the Gamecocks defeated UConn in the national championship game. After becoming the first Black coach in NCAA men’s or women’s basketball to win multiple titles, she celebrated with her team by cutting down the net.

After wearing a designer jacket during the game, Dawn Staley switched into a national championship t-shirt as she spoke into a camera about her emotions while hugging Cocky the Gamecock in front of the ladder where players prepared to cut down the net. Her pride on top of the ladder was clear.

Dawn Staley is a MOOD ✂️💃@dawnstaley | @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/IVIHCcpgZH

— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2022

After taking the net off the rim, she turned around toward her team to celebrate. Listening to the in-arena music, she started dancing on top of the ladder with the net around her net while smiling and laughing.       

Led by National Player of the Year Aliyah Boston, the Gamecocks claimed their first second national championship in school history. Now the team gets to celebrate its second title under Staley with the first coming in 2017.

Dawn Staley confident ahead of National Championship

As South Carolina prepared to face UConn in the NCAA Women’s Championship Game, head coach Dawn Staley believed they were just as dominant of a team. When asked about the Huskies’ perfect 11-0 record in championship games, Staley responded by mentioning South Carolina’s own undefeated record of 1-0. The Gamecocks won a national title in 2017 after beating Mississippi State in their fourth-straight season winning the SEC title.

There is no question that UConn and their coach Geno Auriemma have been known as the standard to beat in college basketball for decades, but Staley is no stranger to the biggest stage either. Despite still playing high school basketball when Auriemma began his coaching career, Staley has done plenty in her run as head coach of the Gamecocks. Since being named head coach in 2008, Staley has led South Carolina to a 366–105 record and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

The Gamecocks won their sixth SEC title under Staley this season, and now have two NCAA National Championships in two attempts. The fact that UConn has done it 11 times before — and won them all entering the night — did not seem to affect Staley’s confidence in her team at all.