With a chance to reach back-to-back title games on her hands, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley strolled out onto the court wearing an homage to a brave little girl.
Staley, coach of the reigning national champion Gamecocks, walked out into Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida ready to try and reach her third national title game in four years.
But she did so while wearing plenty of colorful children’s necklaces made out of beads – as well as some bracelets.
All of those have meaning, and are inspired by Staley’s interactions with a little girl, Blakeleigh Thompson.
ESPN’s Holly Rowe explained, ‘She had a chance to meet a little girl, Blakeleigh, seven years old who’s going through leukemia.
‘She met her in 2023, but tonight, Blakeleigh gets to be here and watch Coach Staley coach for the first time.’
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was seen wearing colorful beads at the Final Four on Friday
The necklaces are made by Blakeleigh Thompson, a seven-year-old girl battling leukemia
South Carolina will be playing for their third national title, and their first back-to-back title
Rowe added that just before the Final Four showdown against Texas, Blakeleigh gave Staley a new necklace to wear specially for the matchup.
‘Dawn said it helps reminds her of how blessed she is to be coaching basketball,’ Rowe said.
With Blakeleigh watching on from the stands, Staley and her South Carolina Gamecocks clinched a spot in the national title game after knocking off Texas 74-57.
Te-Hina Paopao led South Carolina with 14 points on the night – with Joyce Edwards scoring 13 points off the bench and Bree Hall adding 11 points of her own.
Meanwhile, Texas struggled – shooting 39 percent from the field as they were led by Jordan Lee’s 16 points off the bench.
Now, the Gamecocks await the winner of UCLA and UConn to see who they’ll be playing for the title on Sunday afternoon.
