ATLANTA, GA — It was a South Carolina women’s basketball reunion at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia this past weekend. Dawn Staley took her current players to the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever game on Saturday, June 20 to see seven of her former plays go head-to-head in a primetime WNBA matchup.
The Dream defeated the Fever by the score of 113-96, but that wasn’t the biggest story to come out of the game. Staley sat courtside with her current players to cheer on her former players from both teams. Rookie guard Raven Johnson, Aliyah Boston, Tyasha Harris and Bree Hall are all on the active roster for the Indiana Fever.
The Atlanta Dream have Allisha Gray, second-year guard Te-Hina Paopao and rookie center Madina Okot on their roster. All but Hall were in action for their squads with Gray and Boston leading the way. Boston scored 13 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had six assists. Gray had 22 points, five rebounds and three steals to help lead the Dream to victory.
After the game, the former players and current players all gathered around their beloved head coach for a photo. It was Atlanta so of course the stars were out. Female rap star Latto and undefeated two-time gold medalist Claressa Shields were also in attendance sitting courtside and took a picture with the Gamecocks.
Staley also posted a picture of Johnson and Paopao sharing the floor together with the caption, “When championship teammates become opponents= must be @GamecockWBB! I love it here!”
The pictures were widely shared by many current and former WNBA players along with former and current Gamecocks. The pictures also made their rounds with some of the Lady Gamecocks women’s basketball faithful with fans saying things such as, ‘Such a flex’ and ‘Pop it coach!’, under the post on Staley’s personal X account.
The photos and the moment was indeed a flex for Staley and I am sure it will be used as a recruiting tool for the high school prospects. South Carolina currently has 12 active players in the WNBA and will be looking to add more in the years to come.