USC’s LeLe Grissett shares thoughts on her first NCAA tourney appearance in three years
LeLe Grissett pretended to pass out.
South Carolina teammate Olivia Thompson had just hit one of her two 3-pointers late in Friday’s NCAA women’s tournament first-round game against Howard when Grissett dropped back as her teammates caught her. The sideline theatrics and folly were an early celebration to the Gamecocks’ 79-21 win over the Bison, beginning their quest for a second national title in five years.
For the first time since 2019, Grissett will be part of that journey.
The North Carolina native suffered a season-ending lower leg injury during the Gamecocks’ SEC tournament championship game last year, ruling her out for NCAA tournament play. The year before that, the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, Grissett’s last NCAA tournament game was USC’s Sweet 16 loss to Baylor on March 30, 2019. She had four points in the contest. Three years later, the guard turned in an eight-point performance on 4-for-7 shooting off the bench to go along with four assists and three rebounds in almost 16 minutes on the court.
“It was really fun, being on a home court and having our FAMs here, family,” Grissett said, “and just the support, period. And I love playing here. This is home for us.”
For South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, Grissett’s presence serves two purposes and both are appreciated.
“It’s comforting having her available to play, available to practice,” Staley said. “What you see out there is how she’s been every day that she’s been able to practice with us for the last five years. For her to come back and be able to participate in the NCAA tournament by actually playing, it helps her. It helps us.”
Grissett, who’s averaged 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds this season, will have one more chance to play in front of her home crowd. The Gamecocks will take on No. 8 seed Miami in the second round of the tournament Sunday at a time yet to be released.
The opportunity to play at Colonial Life Arena one last time hasn’t hit Grissett yet, though. After being permanently sidelined around this time last year, she’s taking each moment as it comes.
“Today’s game was today’s game,” Grissettt said, “but once I get here (Sunday), then I’m gonna feel it.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 6:26 PM.
