South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has worryingly admitted that none of her current crop of players are ready to be regular starters in the WNBA.

The long-serving NCAA figure has led her team to three national championships, including an incredible 2024 campaign which saw the Gamecocks go unbeaten. The Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer has overseen a strong start to the current season, with South Carolina having tallied up a 13-1 record so far this campaign.

After launching their championship defence in November, their impressive 43-game winning streak came to an abrupt close following a 77-62 loss against UCLA later that month. However, they were able to bounce back strongly, with their latest victory coming in the form of a 830-52 win over Missouri on Jan. 3, with a clash against Mississippi State set to come on Jan. 5.

Ahead of this outing at Humphrey Coliseum, Gamecocks coach Staley gave an honest assessment of her players as she admitted that she currently has no stars at her disposal who could make the transition to the professional game at this stage. Giving a frank insight into the state of play in South Carolina, she acknowledged: “They can start anywhere else in the country.

“Tessa [Johnson], Lay [MiLaysia Fulwiley], Ashlyn [Watkins], Joyce [Edwards. All of them… can be starters in other places. But they know that it’s not totally about starting.”

“It’s about the big picture, which is preparing them to be a pro,” she continued, as she confessed that she feels her players still have work to do to make the next natural step in their careers. “Because I don’t think we have anybody on our team that can go into the WNBA and star. Not anybody. Not anybody.”

Dawn Staley has previously discussed her selection dilemma as head coach of the Gamecocks

Dawn Staley has previously discussed her selection dilemma as head coach of the Gamecocks ( 

Image:

Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Staley also opened up on the selection headache she often faces ahead of games as she spoke in glowing terms about her current group. Explaining her dilemma, she said: “So to be able to play a role like that, that will be a natural role for you in the league in the very beginning, it’s not a bad thing.”

“We play consistently 10 [players], which is hard. I say for the 10 players, it’s hard as well because if someone has got it going on, more times than not, we’re going to play them until the cows come home, right? That means somebody’s minutes are shrinking.”

Staley also divulged how she ensures harmony within the dressing room by maintaining an open dialgoue with her young players when it comes to the issue of game time. She said: “You really have to explain to young people that’s how it is.

“Or else they’ll think ‘I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do’… And that’s the furthest from it. It’s not anything wrong with what they’re doing,” the 54-year-old explained in a revealing remark.2 It’s more about what their [South Carolina] competitors are doing, and it’s a healthy competition.”