COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is not waiting for outside expectations about her rising team to increase. She’s doing that herself, telling her players flat out their goal next season is a national championship.
Staley has always set the bar high and believes her players can’t back that up given almost everyone’s back from a landmark, Southeastern Conference championship season. She also has a recruiting class that features three McDonalds All-Americans including the country’s top prospect in 6-foot-5 A’ja Wilson.
Staley’s team went 29-5, the second most wins in South Carolina history. The Gamecocks achieved another milestone when they were selected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. But they were knocked out shy of the Final Four and Staley hopes that disappointment fuels her team next fall.
