Dawn Staley, Flau'jae Johnson share post-game moment following LSU, South Carolina fight

LSU and South Carolina‘s SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship ended in bizarre fashion moments before the Gamecocks’ 79-72 win to secure their eighth tournament title in the last decade.

With South Carolina ahead 73-66 with 2:08 remaining in the game, a physical confrontation broke out between both teams after LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson committed an intentional foul on Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley after a steal. Which was followed by Johnson bumping South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins, 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso shoving Johnson to the floor hard, and members of benches meeting at halfcourt.

Pandemonium broke out afterward, including Johnson’s brother entering the scuffle over the scorer’s table onto the court and exiting in handcuffs by police with six total players ejected following the incident.

Once the dust settled and the game was over, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was seen speaking with Johnson. Staley confirmed after the game that Johnson apologized to her for the part she played in the events that transpired in a moment following the championship can be seen below.

Dawn Staley apologizes to Flau’jae Johnson and the basketball community after the game pic.twitter.com/Ve3HSEi3O2

— Boot Krewe Media (@BootKreweMedia) March 10, 2024

Johnson was seen putting her arm around Staley following their exchange for a hug, as Stalley apologized on behalf of her team in her postgame interview with ESPN’s Brooke Weisbrod.

“I just want to apologize to the basketball community. When you’re playing in championship games like this, in our league? Things get heated. No bad intentions. Their emotions got so far ahead of them that, sometimes, these things happen,” Staley said. “I want to apologize for us playing a part in that because that’s not who we are and that’s not what we’re about. I’m happy for the players that were able to finish the game and get us another championship.”

“I mean we’re going to talk about it. We’ve always talked about it – never leave the bench, never get too high with the highs or low with the lows,” Staley added. “It’s hard when you’re playing. I’ve played this game a long time. I can’t tell you I was a saint at all times. Your emotions get the best of you. It’s unfortunate that the players that got ejected can’t be a part of the celebration.”

Following the ejections, South Carolina had just six players available to finish Sunday’s game and LSU only had five. As Cardoso, the Gamecocks’ leading scorer and rebounder, will also not be available for South Carolina’s first-round game of the NCAA Tournament.