South Carolina Gamecocks enter the semifinals for the fourth consecutive time. The squad blew out the Oregon State Beavers, 70-58. Having lost beyond multiple key starters this season, the team manages to still enter the Final Four undefeated for the second consecutive year. They will now face the third-seeded NC State, hoping to outsmart last year’s semi-final loss. South Carolina’s recent undefeated run (36-0) puts them in conversations of one of the best institutions in recent years. With that, a 4-year-old LeBron James tweet is starting to resurface.

In 2020, a comparison between the Gamecocks and Tennessee Lady Vols demanded fans’ attention. Gamecocks All-Time squad listed names like Kaela Davis (3x gold medalist with Team USA), Alaina Coates (2023 WNBA champion), and A’ja Wilson (2x WNBA champion and MVP, 1 Finals MVP). On the other hand, the Lady Vols featured Kara Lawson (2005 WNBA champion, 2008 gold medalist), Tamika Catchings (5x defensive player), and Candice Parker (2x WNBA MVP).

LeBron James had questioned Gamecocks’ mettle, quipping, “No disrespect to those lady Gamecocks and their hoopers cause they can ball but THAT Lady Vols team would SMASH damn near any team.” With that, he capped their ceiling to be at the levels of the Connecticut Huskies All-timers: Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Rebecca Lobo, and others. “And yes I know they ain’t in the SEC”, he concluded. Historically, the Lady Vols sustain a more glamorous record.

The institution has 17 SEC tournaments by its name alongside 18 Semi-final appearances. Moreover, they have 8 national titles. On the other hand, the Gamecocks’ surge is quite recent, with 6 Final Fours advancements and 2 national titles (2017 and 2022).

However, LeBron James’ comparison can be seen as a credit to South Carolina’s talents rather than a disregard. The Lady Huskies are the most successful women’s basketball program. They have over 20 final-four appearances, with 11 national titles to their name.

Dawn Staley is on a mission with the Gamecocks

Just 2 years after LeBron James’ South Carolina comparison to the Huskies, Dawn Staley handed UConn their first-ever finals loss. In 2022, the Gamecocks dominated the Paige Bueckers and the Huskies 49-64 to lift their second program title.

It seems like James’ has sparked a zeal for triumph within Dawn Staley. The 53-year-old coach, in the last three years, has cradled the national title and posted back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. However, Staley fronts a rather inexperienced roster this time around. “I’m worried every day,” she said minutes after being 2 games away from championship number 3.

“They’ve had young moments, they’ve had mature moments, they’ve had questionable moments,” Staley radiates the uncertainty that comes with playing without 6 key players (5 starters) this season. Her South Carolina squad will now face the NC State on April 4 in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The game has the potential to keep the Gamecocks on their toes. NC State enters the Final Four after 25 years.

Despite having lockdown players, scorers, and dominant post-up bigs, the team plays with camaraderie for readily sacrificing individual accomplishments. In a way, South Carolina’s caliber would be tested as for the first time in Staley’s leadership, she does not have a leading scorer or a duo in the lineup.

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