Dawn Staley Has a Message for South Carolina as New Season Nears..

Dawn Staley Has a Message for South Carolina as New Season Nears

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dawn Staley is asking her South Carolina women’s basketball team to approach the 2026–27 season with a professional mindset.

The Gamecocks have adopted “Pro” as their theme for the new season, a message centered on preparation, discipline, accountability, leadership and maintaining high standards. The program says the theme reflects the expectation that players prepare and compete like professionals before they ever receive that title. 

That message was put to an early test Sept. 27, when South Carolina defeated College of Charleston 91–60 in an outdoor exhibition at Credit One Stadium. Joyce Edwards led the Gamecocks with 28 points and 16 rebounds, while Tessa Johnson added 23 points. Transfer guard Jordan Lee also made an immediate impression, scoring 15 points while going 4-for-4 from three-point range. 

Despite the comfortable victory, Staley identified areas that need improvement. South Carolina allowed College of Charleston to grab 25 offensive rebounds, while the Gamecocks also committed turnovers that Staley said needed correcting. 

Staley also wants Lee to be more aggressive offensively. After the exhibition, she praised Lee’s shooting but said she would like to see the Texas transfer look for even more opportunities. 

For South Carolina, the preseason is therefore about more than putting points on the scoreboard. Staley’s “Pro” theme sets expectations for how the Gamecocks want to prepare, compete and conduct themselves throughout the season.

The Gamecocks have another exhibition scheduled against Benedict on Oct. 23 before opening the regular season against Maryland on Nov. 2 in Paris. 

With experienced players such as Edwards and Johnson alongside newcomers including Lee, the early games are giving Staley an opportunity to establish the identity she wants before the games begin to count.

The message is clear: talent alone isn’t the standard. Preparation, discipline and consistency are.