Dawn Staley, Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards, and Jordan Lee took the stage at SEC Media Days. Here are some of the biggest takeaways..

L SEC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA DAYS — SOUTH CAROLINA TAKEAWAYS 🐔

Dawn Staley, Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards, and Jordan Lee took the stage at SEC Media Days. Here are some of the biggest takeaways:

🏀 BUILDING THE PROGRAM

Dawn Staley reflected on taking the South Carolina job in 2008 and a conversation with then-AD Eric Hyman, who told her it would take at least three years to get the program going.

Sure enough, Staley’s first winning season came in 2010-11, when the Gamecocks finished 19-15.

🧠 DEVELOPING MENTAL TOUGHNESS

Staley emphasized the importance of building better mental health habits following recent national championship game losses.

She doesn’t believe anything needs to change physically but acknowledged breakdowns in the team’s mental strength. That’s an area the program is focused on improving.

💪 CHLOE KITTS’ RECOVERY

Staley discussed Chloe Kitts’ rehabilitation process, revealing that the coaching staff actually had to slow her down during her recovery.

She also noted that Kitts was in a better position in her recovery than Ashlyn Watkins had been at a comparable stage.

Kitts shared that she leaned heavily on Tessa Johnson and Dawn Staley throughout the process.

🔥 JOYCE EDWARDS’ DEVELOPMENT

Staley expressed how thankful she was that Joyce Edwards’ USA Basketball 3×3 schedule allowed her to spend time on campus over the summer for the first time in three years.

She praised Edwards’ versatility and the guard skills she’s continued developing.

Staley even used one word to describe Edwards’ potential: “Unstoppable.”

🔒 TEXAS TRANSFER JORDAN LEE

Staley discussed the addition of Texas transfer Jordan Lee, a player she originally recruited out of high school.

Lee made just one visit during the transfer portal process but asked plenty of questions before making her decision.

Staley described Lee as “high performing with low maintenance” and praised her elite defensive ability.

With the Gamecocks needing her to take on a larger role, Staley said the staff will lean on Lee more as she becomes comfortable within the system.

THE BIG PICTURE:

South Carolina isn’t looking to reinvent itself. Staley is focused on strengthening the team’s mental approach, developing its young talent, and getting key contributors comfortable in their roles.

The standard in Columbia remains the same: competing for national championships.