ALLIE BROOKS: The impact of the University of South Carolina’s Women’s Basketball Team (2024)

Just when some of us thought that we had heard enough about the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champions, here comes another article. But wait! Would you rather be reading about the championship of the Iowa Hawkeyes or the South Carolina Gameco*ck’s Women’s Basketball Team?

Do you remember how during the 2023 Women’s semi-final, Caitlin Clark waved her hand in the face of a Gameco*ck defender, as if to say, “I’m not worried about you taking a 3 point shot against us.” Well, enter the 2024 National Championship game between the Hawkeyes and the Gameco*cks.

Now before I proceed, the first impact I want to acknowledge is coach Dawn Staley’s demonstration of “Humility before Honor.” A significant part of the Sportsman’s Creed is respecting your opponent. Coach Staley took time in the midst of the Gameco*ck’s victory celebration to acknowledge Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeye Basketball Team for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of women’s basketball. Too, in the midst of her recognition of her players, coaching staff, Gameco*ck fans, and the University of South Carolina, she unashamedly witnessed the God in her life and how He helped her, her assistants, and the players accomplish an undefeated championship season. Unfortunately some do not relate to such an experience, yet, for all believers we can attest to the fact that Proverbs 3: 5, and 6 are the whole truth and nothing but the TRUTH!

We wish all of the stars of today’s women’s basketball teams well, yet, another impact that I hope coach Staley, her assistant coaches, and the entire women’s basketball team have upon all other team sports is what can be accomplished by a talented team of players who complement each other, play unselfishly, and give a broader meaning to the “We.”

Additionally, another impact of coach Dawn Staley and the Gameco*ck’s Women’s Basketball Team is the presence and influence of Jolette Law, one of her excellent assistant coaches. Ironically, Jolette played basketball for the University of Iowa after having been a star basketball player and graduate of Wilson High School. Davy Gregg, an outstanding outfielder, and Carlos Powell, an outstanding basketball player, are also graduates of Wilson High School and the University of South Carolina. As an excellent recruiter for the Lady Gameco*cks, Jolette’s presence, character and calm demeanor on the Gameco*ck bench, as seen during the televised games, is a source of pride for all of the Wilson High School and Florence communities.

John Wooden, the great coach of the UCLA Bruins who won 10 consecutive national basketball championships made this profound statement, “Athletics doesn’t build character, it reveals it.” Sports, like music, helps bring a diverse community together, connect over shared interests and thus build positive community relationships. The attendance at both men and women’s basketball games at the Colonial Center this year is evidence of this as fact. Coach Staley, Jolette Law, others members of the coaching staff, and the players consistently demonstrated the “Fruit of the Spirit,” and when there was a need on occasion to discipline, it was done professionally and with love. Not only were the athletic talents of the team consistently displayed, perhaps more important, the positive social interactions provided much to be emulated in a divided society.

The Lady Gameco*cks had an impact on reinforcing such life skills as teamwork, effective communication, self-discipline, hard work, kindness, dependability, and competence for today’s workforce. Parents, students, and community members need to embrace doing one’s best at all times – being thorough and excellent as it relates to teaching and learning. I wonder what would happen if in all our homes, schools, faith houses, and work environments we had leadership and followers that modeled Dawn Staley and her assistants, and workers who, like the Gameco*ck players not only promoted excellence but demonstrated it consistently. “Well done is better than well said.” -- Ben Franklin