South Carolina women's basketball: Gamecocks and SC DOT unveil new national champion highway signs
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On Tuesday the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the University of South Carolina unveiled new highway signs recognizing the Gamecocks’ 2024 national championship.
They will replace the signs erected in 2022 in honor of that year’s national championship. Fittingly those signs were planned to remain in place for two years. The new signs will all be installed by September 30.
The new signs were revealed at a press conference featuring Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell, athletics director Ray Tanner, and head coach Dawn Staley.
“Coach Staley, we are beyond thrilled to be here as we recognize your team and their third championship in seven years,” Powell said. “All South Carolinians, regardless of what team you cheer for, are proud of what you and your team have built here in Columbia.”
Staley said she still looks for the signs when she is driving around the state and it feels surreal when she sees them.
“I hope that this is an annual event,” Staley said. “We look forward to seeing the 15 signs around the state but especially here in Columbia.”
In addition to the 2022 signs, the Department of Transportation also established signs honoring the women’s basketball team in 2017 and the 2010-11 national champion baseball teams. Coastal Carolina baseball and Clemson football, among others, have also received signs for their accomplishments.
“You think that hopefully one day our women’s basketball team can be in the number, and not only are we in the number, we’ve done it three times,” Staley said. “You win a third one and it brings out the greed. You want more.”
A total of 15 signs will be erected around the state, each replacing the old two-time national champion signs. Nine of the signs will be at both welcome centers on Interstate 85, Interstate 26, and Interstate 95, plus the welcome center on Interstate 77 and Interstate 20.
The remaining six signs will be located around the Columbia area. They will be at I-26 Exit 111B (both directions), I-77 Exit 5 (both directions), I-20 Exit 58 East, I-20 Exit 73A West, and on 277 entering Columbia.
