Current:Home > reviewsDawn Staley rides in Rolls-Royce Dawn for South Carolina's 'uncommon' victory parade -OceanicInvest
Dawn Staley rides in Rolls-Royce Dawn for South Carolina's 'uncommon' victory parade
View
Date:2025-04-12 02:19:22
Is there a cooler team than the South Carolina Gamecocks?
The women's college basketball national champions celebrated their second NCAA title in three years on Sunday with a victory parade in Columbia, South Carolina. The Gamecocks beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in Cleveland on April 7.
Head coach Dawn Staley fittingly rolled through the streets of the city in a white Rolls-Royce Dawn. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, expressing the difficulty of thinking what to give the most-fashionable coach in women's college basketball, presented her with a wrestling belt, which she held up to the cheers of the crowd.
A celebration video showed highlights of the Gamecocks' tournament run, which capped off an undefeated season, with the song "We Win" by Kirk Franklin and Lil Baby serving as the soundtrack. Julia Westerman, of local news outlet WIS-10, reported that the Richland County coroner's office had a float with tombstones of each of the teams South Carolina beat en route to the title.
Te-Hina Paopao shared some words about the unity of the team and promised fans, "It's time for our repeat tour."
Kamilla Cardoso skipped orientation for the WNBA draft to be with her teammates. She rode in a gray-green Chevrolet Corvette and hoisted the national championship trophy through the streets.
Once the caravan reached its final destination at the State House, Staley spoke to the crowd wearing a visor, round sunglasses, her beaded necklace and a black T-shirt that said, "You win some, you lose none." She gave some insight into the emotional speech she gave mentioning "uncommon favor" after winning the title game, which was revenge on Iowa after being knocked out of the Final Four last season.
"I don't know that everybody really understands what uncommon favor is," she said. "Uncommon favor is when your mother or your father told you, 'I can show you better than I can tell you.' After we planned to be here last year during this time, it wasn't harvest time. It wasn't. And it was a devastating loss for all who were part of it. And I was hurt deeply, deeply. It didn't destroy my faith, but I did ask why. ... God sometimes says, 'I can show you better than I can tell you.'"
Staley, who is the first Black coach to win three national championships, thanked school administrators, the local media and her team. Her expression of gratitude for the fans continued the theme that this season was extraordinary.
"The love that you pour into us as we drove down main street, it is uncommon," she said, "and I really, really deeply appreciate your love, your unconditional love."
veryGood! (581)
Related
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- A man who accosted former Rep. Lee Zeldin at an upstate NY campaign stop receives 3 years probation
- Oregon’s top court hears arguments in suit filed by GOP senators seeking reelection after boycott
- U.S. terrorist watchlist grows to 2 million people — nearly doubling in 6 years
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- Set of 6 Messi World Cup jerseys sell at auction for $7.8 million. Where does it rank?
- Wife of American held hostage by the Taliban fears time is running out
- How the US keeps funding Ukraine’s military — even as it says it’s out of money
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Author James Patterson gives $500 holiday bonuses to hundreds of US bookstore workers
Ranking
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Militants attack police office and army post in northwest Pakistan. 2 policemen, 3 attackers killed
- Oprah Winfrey portrait revealed at National Portrait Gallery
- California regulators vote to extend Diablo Canyon nuclear plant operations through 2030
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- U.S. terrorist watchlist grows to 2 million people — nearly doubling in 6 years
- Kirk Herbstreit goes on rant against Florida State fans upset about playoff snub
- Trevor Noah returns to host 2024 Grammy Awards for 4th year in a row
Recommendation
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
You'll Royally Obsess Over These 18 Gifts for Fans of The Crown
Indiana basketball legend George McGinnis dies at 73: 'He was like Superman'
AP Week in Pictures: North America
At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
Julia Roberts talks about how Leave the World Behind blends elements of family with a disaster movie
U.S. terrorist watchlist grows to 2 million people — nearly doubling in 6 years
How to watch 'Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God,' the docuseries everyone is talking about