The early season nonconference game between South Carolina and Southern Cal will pit two of the top figures in women’s college basketball against each other.
Coach Dawn Staley‘s No. 1 Gamecocks (3-0) will take on JuJu Watkins and the No. 3 Trojans (3-0) at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on Nov. 15 (1 p.m. ET, ABC). This will be the first time that one of Staley’s teams has faced Watkins.
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“I think she puts the time in,” Staley said Nov. 13 of what makes Watkins special. “She’s fallen in love with the game. She’s always loved the game. … And for all her life, JuJu has been a generational talent, and I don’t think she takes that lightly. I do think she really works at it. … She hasn’t played in a big game in a long time, and we know she is heroic when it comes to having big games on the biggest stage.”
The two have a history that dates back to Watkins’ time in high school as the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2023.
Watkins, a 6-2 senior guard, is considered a potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft. She leads Southern Cal in points (24.3) and rebounds (8.3).
Here’s what to know about the relationship between Staley and Watkins.
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Dawn Staley heavily recruited JuJu Watkins to sign with South Carolina
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 05: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins in the National Championship of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 05: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins in the National Championship of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley argue at the end of a semifinal of the Final Four of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
(Joe Camporeale, Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 78-52 in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
(Thien-An Truong, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts against the Oklahoma Sooners during the fourth quarter in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
(Thien-An Truong, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley waves to fans Monday, March 23, 2026, after the Gamecocks won in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
(Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina, Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Feb 22, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley smiles at her bench players against the Mississippi Rebels in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Dawn Staley, right, of the South Carolina Gamecocks talks with Christine Williamson, left, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike before an NCAA women’s basketball game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Colonial Life Arena on February 22, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
(Sean Rayford, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts in the first half against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during their game at Colonial Life Arena on February 08, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
(Jacob Kupferman, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 25: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on in the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores during their game at Colonial Life Arena on January 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
(Jacob Kupferman, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 18: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks signs autographs after the game against the Coppin State Eagles at Physical Education Complex on January 18, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
(Greg Fiume, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Jan 11, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley hugs mascot Cocky before their game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 1: Head Coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks communicates with an official during the second quarter of an NCAA women’s basketball game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Colonial Life Arena on January 1, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
(Sean Rayford, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts against the USC Trojans during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on November 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 30: Head coach Dawn Staley and Tessa Johnson #5 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate their 91-82 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels during The Bad Boy Mowers Series between the North Carolina Tar Heels and South Carolina Gamecocks at State Farm Arena on October 30, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Apr 6, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley hugs guard Raven Johnson (25) during the second half of the national championship of the women’s 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Mar 23, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley waves to the crowd following their win against the Indiana Hoosiers at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley cuts the net down after the win over Texas in the SEC women’s championship at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
(Jim Dedmon, Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley hoists the SEC Championship Trophy after her team’s win over Texas during the SEC Women’s Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
(Jim Dedmon, Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts to the referee’s decision in the first half as the Texas Longhorns take on the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Moody Center, Feb. 9, 2025. Texas won the game 66-62.
(Sara Diggins/American-Statesman, Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 02: Former South Carolina Gamecocks player A’ja Wilson hugs head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks before her jersey retirement ceremony before the game against the Auburn Tigers at Colonial Life Arena on February 02, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
(Jacob Kupferman, Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 12: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks communicates with players during the fourth quarter of an NCAA women’s basketball game against Texas Longhorns at Colonial Life Arena on January 12, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. The South Carolina Gamecocks won 67-50. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Dec 19, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley waves to fans after the game with Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum Wednesday, November 20, 2024; Clemson, SC, USA.
(Ken Ruinard – staff)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Dawn Staley, left, picked South Carolina and Lee Corso picked LSU during the ESPN Gameday show before kickoff at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. Saturday, September 14, 2024.
(Ken Ruinard / staff)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Coach Dawn Staley during an event to celebrate the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team for their 2023-2024 championship season, in the East Room of the White House on September 10, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew ANGERER / AFP) (Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images)
(DREW ANGERER, AFP via Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Aug 9, 2024; Paris, France; Dawn Staley talking to Kevin Durant during a women’s basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
(Kyle Terada, Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the trophy presentation after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
(Ken Blaze, Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley cuts the net after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
(Ken Blaze, Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Apr 7, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the trophy presentation after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
(Ken Blaze, Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, cutting down the net after a victory in the Elite Eight, will coach the Gamecocks in another Final Four.
(Gregory Fisher, USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley celebrates with the team after the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Sunday, March 10, 2024.
(Ken Ruinard / staff)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley cuts down the net after her team beat LSU for the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Sunday, March 10, 2024.
(Ken Ruinard / staff)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Mar 3, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Tennessee Lady Vols in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Dawn Staley, Head coach of the University of South Carolina basketball team, hugs Gamecocks signee Joyce Edwards of Camden High, after they won 44-22 against Wren High in the 2024 South Carolina High School 3A Basketball Championship game at the Florence Center in Florence, S.C. Saturday, March 2, 2024.
(Ken Ruinard / staff)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Feb 11, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley disputes a call against the UConn Huskies in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Jan 15, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Sep 4, 2022; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; Darlington Raceway president Kerry Tharp poses with University of South Carolina womens basketball coach Dawn Staley after giving her a plaque for her role as Honorary Pace Car Driver prior to the COOK OUT Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
(David Yeazell, David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley cuts down the net after beating Maryland in the NCAA Women’s Elite Eight Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. Monday, March 27, 2023.
(McKenzie Lange / USA Today Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Mar 19, 2023; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the South Florida Bulls in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Mar 17, 2023; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley dances before their game against the Norfolk State Spartans in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball tournament at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Apr 13, 2022; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks womenÕs basketball head coach Dawn Staley speaks to fans during their championship parade. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
(Jim Dedmon, Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley cuts down the net as she celebrates the Gamecocks’ victory over UConn for the national title.
(Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Mar 8, 2020; Greenville, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the SEC Conference Championship at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
(Jeremy Brevard, Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina forward A’ja Wilson (22) picks up South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley after winning the during 2018 SEC Women’s Basketball Championship at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Sunday, March 4, 2018.
(Shelley Mays/ Tennessean.com)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Dawn Staley after winning the 2017 Women’s Final Four championships
(Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, left, and assistant coach Lisa Boyer celebrate the Gamecocks 67-65 win over North Carolina in the 3rd round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament Friday, March 27, 2015 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
(BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff)
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Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach with 3 NCAA titles in 19th season
Dawn Staley helped Virginia to three Final Fours and was a two-time national player of the year from 1989-92.
(USA TODAY Sports)
Staley was one of the many coaches trying to convince Watkins to play for their program. South Carolina hosted Watkins for an official visit in October 2022, but Watkins, a Los Angeles native, ultimately decided to play for her hometown team, committing to Southern Cal on Nov. 15, 2022.
Watkins revealed in her 2024 NBC Sports docuseries entitled “On the Rise: JuJu Watkins,” that her final decision was between South Carolina and Southern Cal.
“We were fortunate enough to be one of her schools in the end,” Staley said in March 2025. “So I’ve kept in touch with her and her support system.”
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Dawn Staley, JuJu Watkins relationship continued even after she picked USC
Even though Staley was unsuccessful in her recruitment of Watkins, the pair still maintained a relationship.
After Watkins tore her ACL in an NCAA Tournament game in March 2025, Staley sent her a text to show her support. Watkins missed the entire 2025-26 season.
“Really tough,” Staley said days after the incident. “JuJu is loved by all of us. JuJu is raising and lifting our game up with how she plays, with cornering the market when it comes to NIL deals. I mean, she’s a business herself, and to see part of that not a part of our NCAA Tournament, something is missing. There’s a big void.”
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Even though Watkins was unable to play, she was on the bench for last season’s regular season game between the Trojans and the Gamecocks in the first game in The Real SC series at Galen Center on Nov. 15, 2025. Staley hugged Watkins before her team’s 69-52 win.
Watkins also made the trip to Columbia when South Carolina hosted Southern Cal for the first two rounds of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The teams met in the second round, with the Gamecocks coming out on top 101-61.
“She looks like she’s more lean, and she’s more willing to give the ball up and allow her teammates to do the things that they do best.,” Staley said of Watkins’ gameplay post-injury. “But I would say this, they haven’t had a game as big as this one, and I’m sure she’s going to want to put her imprint on the game.”
Other connections between South Carolina and Juju Watkins, USC
Although they never took the court together, Watkins and South Carolina freshman guard Jerzy Robinson are graduates of Sierra Canyon.
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Watkins played there, beginning in her junior year in 2021-22. Robinson transferred to Sierra Canyon for the 2023-24 season, the year after Watkins graduated, after spending her freshman year at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix.
Robinson holds the career scoring record at Sierra Canyon with 2,649 points in her three seasons. She was the No. 6 recruit in the class of 2026.
Staley and her staff are also familiar with 2026 No. 1 recruit Saniyah Hall, who similar to Watkins, chose Southern Cal over South Carolina. Hall posted about her official visit to South Carolina in May 2025 and announced her commitment to Southern Cal two months later in July.
Hall was teammates with Gamecock sophomore guard Agot Makeer. The two played together at Monte Verde Academy in Florida in the 2024-25 season, finishing 26-2 and making it to the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals championship where they lost to IMG Academy.
