Dawn Staley’s focus is as sharp as a well-placed bounce pass—always directed exactly where it needs to be. On Thursday night, moments after her South Carolina team secured a hard-fought 75-59 victory over Ole Miss, Staley wasn’t basking in the win or diving into postgame analysis. Instead, she was glued to her phone, watching LSU’s nail-biting clash with Alabama.
“Y’all watching the game?” Staley asked, delaying her postgame press conference. A clip shared by Ole Miss beat writer Sam Hutchens on X captured the moment: “Hold on, don’t start yet.” Staley was locked in. “Which one are you watching?” someone asked. “I’m watching LSU-Alabama. Two-point game, 31 seconds.”
It wasn’t just casual scouting. LSU, the reigning national champions, had already fallen to South Carolina 66-56 earlier in the season. But as the SEC standings tightened, Staley understood that every bit of intel could make a difference. With both teams chasing UCLA and Texas at the top of the standings, any slip-up was a window of opportunity.
“Y’all watching the game?”
Minutes after being Ole Miss, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is locked into the LSU/Alabama game. pic.twitter.com/Ozmgn9l6I3
— Sam Hutchens (@Sam_Hutchens_) February 28, 2025
South Carolina had just taken care of business against Ole Miss, led by Sania Feagin’s 22 points and a triple-double from Chloe Kitts. The Gamecocks had outmuscled the Rebels in the paint, converting 17 of 28 layups and proving their dominance inside. But Staley’s mind was already ahead—watching Kim Mulkey’s LSU squad navigate a pressure-packed finish against Alabama.
And then, a twist. Alabama pulled off the upset, edging LSU 88-85 in overtime. Aaliyah Nye’s 28 points and Essence Cody’s clutch block sealed the Crimson Tide’s win, shaking up the SEC standings. LSU’s leading scorer, Flau’Jae Johnson, struggled, snapping her 37-game streak of double-digit scoring with just six points on 2-of-12 shooting.
For Staley, this was more than a surprising result—it was a strategic advantage. South Carolina and LSU had both lost to Vic Schaefer’s Texas team, but now, LSU had an extra blemish on their record. South Carolina stood at 26-3, LSU at 27-3. Every edge mattered.
Mulkey’s Tigers, known for their offensive firepower, had led for only 23 seconds in the Alabama game, struggling against a defensive wall they couldn’t break consistently. Staley, ever the tactician, surely took notes on LSU’s vulnerabilities—where Alabama exposed them, how they faltered in crunch time, and what that meant for South Carolina’s own path forward.
It’s not uncommon for top coaches to study their biggest rivals obsessively, but Staley’s focus was unusually overt. While her team celebrated a key road win, she was already dissecting LSU’s flaws in real-time.
South Carolina’s victory over Ole Miss wasn’t just another win—it was a statement. By securing a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, the Gamecocks have put themselves in the perfect position to defend their conference title. With Dawn Staley at the helm, South Carolina looks poised for another deep postseason run, while their biggest competition, LSU, is showing signs of unraveling at the worst possible time.
LSU’s playoff hopes wobble after OT loss to the Crimson Tide as Dawn Staley keeps a watchful eye
LSU’s grip on a top seed took a serious hit after a stunning overtime loss to No. 20 Alabama. The latest NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Top 16 rankings, released on February 27, 2025, placed LSU at No. 7, but that position is bound to slip. With teams like South Carolina, UConn, and Notre Dame surging, the Tigers may find themselves tumbling down the seedings just as March Madness approaches.
LSU guard Flau’Jae Johnson (4) and LSU guard Mikaylah Williams (12) celebrate during a timeout during a women’s college basketball game between the Lady Vols and LSU at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
The loss to Alabama was a gut punch, with Essence Cody delivering the final blow. Cody, who finished with 17 points and five blocks, denied Mikaylah Williams’ go-ahead layup with just four seconds left in overtime, sealing an 88-85 win for the Crimson Tide.
To make matters worse, LSU’s offensive engine, Flau’Jae Johnson, had a disastrous night. Her streak of 37 consecutive double-digit scoring games came to an abrupt end, as she managed just six points on 2-of-12 shooting. With their regular-season finale against Ole Miss looming, the Tigers must regroup fast to avoid heading into the postseason on shaky ground.
While South Carolina is focused on their own path, it’s clear that Dawn Staley has one eye on LSU. If the Tigers can’t shake off this late-season stumble, the Gamecocks’ road to another SEC title just got a whole lot smoother.
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