'It's a lot of Happy Meals to go around': Dawn Staley speaks on South Carolina recruiting
Ever since the 2009 addition of Kelsey Bone to the South Carolina roster, a McDonald’s All-American nod has been a consistent accolade for at least one player on the team each year.
16 seasons and three national titles later, head coach Dawn Staley is leading the Gamecocks with top-flight talent across the board.
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South Carolina’s depth in its roster helps keep players fresh. It is something LSU’s Kim Mulkey and Kentucky’s Kenny Brooks have mentioned post-game following their teams’ respective losses in Columbia.
Brooks’ comment Sunday came while reflecting how far his team has come in year one. The Wildcats have been without key players Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurova all season. The duo’s absence is something that certainly hurt the Wildcats in the final stretch of the game, Brooks said.
“They were subbing in McDonald’s All-Americans for McDonald’s All-Americans, just seeing which one was going to play better,” Brooks said. They were fresh. Going down the stretch – I think it was four minutes to go, it was, maybe, a one-possession game – and that really elevated them.”
Staley said Wednesday that she likes to have a little fun sometimes when those comments occur.
“I would imagine that nobody’s turning down McDonald’s All-Americans,” Staley said. “We’re just fortunate.”
South Carolina’s style of play, discipline, winning tradition, and growth are factors that led 10 McDonald’s All-Americans to South Carolina’s 2024-25 roster. Additionally, that number doesn’t mention the two lined up to join next season in Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell.
“I don’t think I’ve ever coached against a team with 10 McDonald’s All-Americans,” Mulkey said to the media after LSU’s loss to South Carolina. “How do you even keep 10 on a roster? That’s what we faced today, and what a challenge it was. It was an enjoyable game to coach in, and man, was it good for women’s basketball. It was good for the SEC.”
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The SEC in total features 36 McDonald’s All-American athletes spread across 13 of its 16 teams for the 2024-25 season.
However, it’s not being an all-American that makes you a great player, Staley said.
The SEC is tough. Facing the “best of the best that’s playing their best” on the weekend makes the tournament undeniably tougher, Staley added.
“I mean, this league always puts you in a position to compete for a national championship. Our national championships were realized because of the SEC, in a type of conference that we deliver time and time again,” Staley said. “Like we always are putting each other in the position of having to compete, having to adjust, having to play different styles, and bringing in Oklahoma and Texas, really, actually gets us even more prepared.”
Makeer said after committing to the Gamecocks that Staley’s word was something that in her recruitment has always been genuine.
It’s not just what you provide to the athlete on the floor. Appeasing the family is a huge part of South Carolina’s recruiting, Staley said.
“Is the household happy and we’ve done our job,” Staley said. “It’s a lot of Happy Meals to go around.”
