LOS ANGELES – The 2024 NCAA Division One Women’s Basketball National Champs just dominated the ESPYS award ceremony. The South Carolina Gamecocks as well as former ones racked up a plethora of awards on Thursday July 11th. A’ja Wilson, Dawn Staley and the whole South Carolina women’s basketball team received awards.
The former Gamecock A’ja Wilson was awarded Best Athlete Women’s Sports and Best WNBA Player. Nonetheless, this is no shocker after the exceptional season this year and in previous years by Wilson.
“It’s crazy to think that a young girl that didn’t even want to play basketball is now up in the running for even one ESPY,” WNBA Las Vegas Aces, A’ja Wilson said videotaped remarks
The two time MVP, Defensive Player of The Year and WNBA champ who also won a national championship under Dawn’s South Carolina Gamecocks team has been averaging 26.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.6, and 1.9 steals a game. On July 7th, Wilson became the Utah Starzz, San Antonio Stars and Las Vegas Aces all-time leading scorer after surpassing Sophia Young-Malcolm’s 4,300 points record.
The Jimmy V award for Perseverance was presented to the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks: Dawn Staley. Staley has led the Gamecocks to three national championships, Eight SEC conference championship wins and becoming the NCAA’s tenth undefeated national champions.
The Philadelphia native received the award for her endless fight and support of women’s sports, Staley’s friend Nikki McCray-Penson, who died of breast cancer, Staley’s sister who fought off her Leukemia and a young girl named Blakely who battles with cancer right now. Staley met Blakely at the UVA Children’s Hospital with her partnership with Aflac, she keeps the necklace Blakely made for her on at all times.
“I must confess I feel a little undeserving of this recognition. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have faced incredible challenges and proven themselves as true warriors,” Staley said. “I have merely been a spectator to such immense courage and resilience.”
Staley has shown tremendous leadership throughout her years and has been a safe space for everyone who knows her. Her ability to speak up for the young ladies that she coaches and opponents is truly amazing.
“How do I not fight injustice when I ask them to do the things the right way? … How do I not fight for equity when I tell them they can climb as high as they want, they can be all that they want? How do I not fight pay disparity when I do the same job and get paid less, but win more?” Staley said.
The South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team was awarded Best Team at the ESPYS. A perfect season with a 39-0 record that led to winning the national championship. The gamecocks have stayed consistent all season even when having members hurt, sitting out due to incidents and sickness. Despite having everyone question if they’d be going home in the Final Four like the previous season, they defied the odds and ended up going undefeated.
When former South Carolina center Kamilla Cardosa shot a game winning three in the final seconds vs the Tennessee Vols to keep the Gamecocks unbeaten, fans felt the electric moment and were excited. The Gamecocks just simply couldn’t be denied this year after going on their revenge tour.
Regardless of the seriousness of the Gamecock team, off the court several funny moments between the team are on the teams social media accounts. After winning the National championship Coach Staley was in an interview with ESPN sports reporter Holly Rowe with tears of joy and in the background were the South Carolina players dancing.
“Who knew Dawn’s daycare would be up here right now”, South Carolina women’s guard Te-Hina Paopao stated on the ESPYS stage.
This seems to only be the beginning for the powerful South Carolina team who will come even harder next year and in the future. Fans expect to see Staley and her Gamecocks back next year for more awards.
Kierra Richardson is a Journalism student at Ohio State University desiring to work in sports media.
