South Carolina women's basketball celebrates with championship parade

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Thousands of fans lined Main Street and then crowded onto the State House grounds for South Carolina’s national championship parade. The parade came ten days after the Gamecocks’ win in Minneapolis, a delay caused in part by bad weather, but the weather couldn’t have been much better Wednesday evening.

Once the parade reached the State House, the speeches and honors began. Columbia mayor Daniel Rickenmann presented Dawn Staley with the key to the city and proclaimed April as National Championship Month.

Congressman James Clyburn invited the Gamecocks to the White House on behalf of President Joe Biden. He said the Gamecocks could choose when to visit, “Be sure not to schedule it on a day when Congress is not in session. Please do it when I’m going to be there.”

Clyburn then presented Staley with the flag that flew over the Capitol on April 6. He then gave each of the players a copy of the record of proceedings of the United States Congress for April 7, which includes a tribute to the championship-winning Gamecocks. “What I usually do in an election year is put my picture right next to it,” Clyburn quipped, “but I’m not going to do that.”

“Not only did you win a national title,” he continued, “you won the hearts of the entire country.”

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Interim president Harris Pastides spoke next. He touted Staley’s impact off the court. “She has done more for gender equity, for equality in women’s athletics than anyone,” Pastides said. He declared the Gamecocks should have three national titles, claiming 2020, the year the tournament was canceled and the Gamecocks were the consensus top-ranked team. Making one of his few remaining appearances before retiring again, Pastides promised to continue to support the team. 

“Male, female, whatever you go by, we are the sixth woman!” he said. “Mayor, how about we keep this parade route because we’re going to need it next year!”

When it was Staley’s turn at the microphone, she tried to come up with the most profound thing she could say. “The victory was one before it was played,” she said. Staley thanked the “complete support” from the university, the city, the state, and of course the fans. She thanked the players for their sacrifice and for not complaining when they didn’t play much.

“The people that didn’t play a whole lot, your role was a lot bigger than you thought it was because you didn’t have to accept it and you could have blown it up,” Staley said.

15 of the 16 Gamecocks were in attendance, including Eniya Russell and Elysa Wesolek, who announced last week they will enter the transfer portal and play somewhere else next season. Only Destanni Henderson, the hero of the championship game was missing. She was stuck in Indiana, preparing for training camp with the Fever. In her honor, Staley wore a pair of “Henny-thing’s Possible” shorts. 

The players got to enjoy themselves. They danced (of course) and high-fived fans along the parade route. Aliyah Boston spoke briefly and thanked the fans. Bree Hall learned the hard way why the first rule of television is “always assume the mic is hot” when she was caught singing along to Alicia Keys before the ceremony. After that, she mimed along. Staley presented Brea Beal and Victaria Saxton with the “FAM-VP awards” as the unsung heroes of the team.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! This meant so much to me 🙏🏽🙏🏽 @MadPlatter https://t.co/zR44TUijb6

— Brea Beal (@QueenBrea_1) April 14, 2022

Numerous former players also participated in the parade. Khadijah Sessions, Asia Dozier, Courtney Newton, Markeshia Grant, La’Keisha Sutton, Brionna Dickerson, Demetress Adams, and the great Sheila Foster were among those who participated.

After everyone made their speech and everyone was thanked, Staley had the final word.

“Let’s run it back!”

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