Dawn Staley & Co. are off to a good start this season, dropping just one game as they fiercely defend their title. But for Dawn, “good” is never enough. She’s always pushing for greatness. Recently, she called on her squad to step it up, singling out Ashlyn Watkins to deliver more. Well, fresh off an 81-70 victory over No. 9 Duke in the matchup against Hailey Van Lith’s No. 9 TCU, the junior forward said, “Your word is my command.”

Previously, Coach Staley challenged her team to find their rhythm and maximize their potential. “We’re talented, no doubt, but we need to figure out which combinations work best. And we certainly need more. We need more from Ash,” Staley said. Message received, loud and clear.

In the first half against TCU, she lit the court with an epic dunk off a steal, which is arguably her best yet. Late in the first quarter, Sedona Prince, the nation’s top shot-blocker, rejected Watkins’ layup attempt. But Watkins hustled back, stole the ball from Madison Conner, and stormed down the court. 

By midcourt, it was obvious what was coming. Prince gave chase, but Watkins, unbothered, slammed it home. It was reminiscent of her dunks against Clemson and Kentucky last season, but this one felt extra special. By halftime, South Carolina was in cruise control, leading 44-23 while shooting 56% from the field.

The team’s suffocating defense held TCU’s star Prince to just two points and one rebound. But this wasn’t a surprise, as the Gamecocks’ defense-first mentality has been the cornerstone of Staley’s coaching philosophy. It showed earlier this season when the Gamecocks bounced back from their only loss with a 76-36 win over Iowa State.

At that time, senior Sania Feagin summed it up, saying, “We like to focus on defense before offense. Defense leads to offense. It gave us the energy and momentum of who we knew we are.” Now, in this game, with an amazing defensive showing and her players echoing her values, you know Coach Staley must be beaming with pride. But do you know? There’s another player winning Dawn Staley’s heart lately.

Dawn Staley proves critics wrong as her rising star shines 

It’s the late recruit, Maddy McDaniel. Despite joining South Carolina late, McDaniel quickly formed a bond with Staley. “Maddy makes me smile,” the HC recently said. Critics doubted McDaniel’s decision to commit to South Carolina, questioning her chances of standing out in a star-studded lineup. 

But McDaniel silenced the doubters in Thursday’s clash with Duke. Her steady play helped the Gamecocks secure an 81-70 win in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Staley didn’t hold back in defending her rising star. “Some people told her she was making the worst decision of her life. That we wouldn’t play her until her junior year. But I’m happy because she’s proving them wrong,” Staley said. 

The coach acknowledged how daunting it must’ve been for McDaniel to join a roster already stacked with guards like Raven Johnson. Yet, McDaniel chose the challenge. Her stats against Duke, seven points, three steals, and a team-best +14 rating in just 16 minutes spoke volumes.

So far this season, she is averaging 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting a 65% from the field. So, for now, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks look poised to make another good run. With their defense on the spot, Watkins’ highlight reels, and McDaniel proving her mettle, basically every player stepping up, who knows? They just might snag another title.