Gamecocks win SEC title, but late-game ejections make for ‘bittersweet’ celebration
Dawn Staley walked up a blue and silver ladder Sunday in Bon Secours Wellness Arena to cut down her eighth SEC championship net.
Staley started with her left foot followed by the right, surrounded by blue, yellow and white confetti and guided by director of player development Freddy Ready. Staley’s moment came after all the players and assistant coaches had cut a strip of nylon for themselves, just as she has always done.
But this time, only seven of 11 South Carolina women’s basketball players went before her, as the other four had been ejected from the 79-72 championship win against LSU after a bench-clearing fight ensued with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter.
“It’s bittersweet,” Staley said. “It really is. I want to be there for the players that were able to end the game and celebrate with them. But part of me wanted to be in the locker room to celebrate with the players who weren’t able to do that.
“But we put ourselves in that position. … I’m hoping it’s the biggest lesson that any of our teams have to experience.”
Sunday’s altercation was one of multiple lessons this young Gamecocks squad absorbed over the course of the weekend.
They learned how it felt to almost lose a game Saturday against Tennessee, walking away with a win by the grace of Kamilla Cardoso’s first career 3-pointer. They learned how it felt to be punished when their emotions got the best of them Sunday. And they learned how it felt to win a championship.
They only want to feel one of those feelings ever again.
The altercation began after LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson fouled South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, who had just nabbed a steal. After the play ended, Johnson elbowed USC forward Ashlyn Watkins. Gamecocks center Cardoso then went over to Johnson and pushed her to the ground. At one point, a fan jumped over the scorers’ table to intervene. Per the ESPN broadcast, that fan was Johnson’s brother. Police escorted him out of the arena in handcuffs.
The officiating crew reviewed the scuffle for about 20 minutes before announcing a decision. An intentional foul was called on Johnson. A disqualifying foul was called on Cardoso — meaning she’ll also miss the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Both benches were ejected, except for USC guard Te-Hina Paopao and forward Sania Feagin.
The remaining Gamecocks — Watkins, Feagin, Fulwiley, Paopao, Raven Johnson and Bree Hall — held on for a victory.
Now, just six more games stand between South Carolina and the chance for all 11 players to cut down a net in front of a celebratory crowd.
The Gamecocks will be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament bracket released next Sunday, and although their opponents are to be determined their geographic path is clear:
▪ Win two games at home in Columbia.
▪ Win two games in Albany, New York (the closer of two predetermined regional pods).
▪ And win two games at the Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio, with the second of those two cementing USC’s third national title.
On paper, it looks like a small task for a team with 32 wins and zero losses to its name. But not if they continue to play as they have to close this chapter of the season.
“They’re resilient,” Staley said of her team. “I’m happy for them, but I also know that you can’t keep winning the close games. At some point, the law of averages says you’ve got to build a lead, and you’ve got to keep a lead if you can get one.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2024 at 8:06 PM.
