‘Finally’: Dawn Staley, Gamecocks visit White House for 2024 national championship

If one had closed their eyes when the South Carolina women’s basketball team walked into the White House’s East Room on Tuesday morning, they might have mistaken it for Colonial Life Arena.

The Gamecocks had traded in their jerseys for business attire, together donning a rainbow of suits and dresses. The chandeliers, golden wall-to-wall curtains and massive mirrors were grander than their home court. But they walked in exuding the same confidence as when they run out of the tunnel on gameday.

The fight song blared, serenading players, assistant coaches and other staff members. Guests clapped to the beat and yelled “Go Cocks!” right on cue. Famous Democrats from the Palmetto State were scattered among the crowd, including Rep. Jim Clyburn and former representative Bakari Sellers.

South Carolina women’s basketball had finally made it to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 2023-24 national championship — the program’s third title but first White House visit — and those S.C. dignitaries weren’t going to miss it.

“Congratulations on an incredible run of excellence,” President Joe Biden said. “Incredible.”

Biden and coach Dawn Staley entered together for the ceremony. He shouted out the state of South Carolina and Staley’s Philadelphia roots.

“I know why you’re so good,” he said. “You got a girl from Philly running this team. I married a Philly girl (First Lady Jill Biden), and you don’t screw around the Philly girl, man. They’re tough.”

The room erupted with laughter.

President Biden rattled off various statistics from the Gamecocks national championship run. He recalled how four players scored in double figures, how USC’s bench outscored Iowa’s 37-0 in the title game and the “big number”: 24 million. That’s the number of viewers the championship game peaked at on April 7.

The Gamecocks completed the first undefeated championship season in Division I basketball since UConn in 2016, finishing 38-0 after replacing all five starters from 2022-23. They became the fifth program to achieve perfection (joining Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas and Baylor) with an 87-75 victory over Iowa in Cleveland on April 7.

Staley began her speech Tuesday by thanking Biden and reflecting on the significance of the building in which she stood.

“Thank you for this incredible honor to stand here in the White House, a house that symbolizes hope, unity and opportunity for all,” Staley said. “It’s a moment that is not lost on me. I feel like this is a teachable moment for my team.”

She talked about South Carolina’s journey as a state, where until recently the Confederate flag flew above the capitol building – a 13-minute walk away from Colonial Life Arena. Just a couple blocks from where Staley, a Black woman, led a predominantly Black team to the sport’s mountaintop.

“Today, my staff, my team and I stand here embodying diversity, inclusiveness and unity,” Staley said. “My hope is that this moment lands on you, as my team, as a powerful reminder of the beauty that can come from unifying for a common goal and doing things the right way.”

She thanked her staff and players for never backing down. Not from the moment, not from the grind, and not from her demands.

She also thanked her players’ families, the fans (known affectionately as “the FAMs” and the team’s unofficial sixth man), God and Biden for his leadership.

“We hope,” Staley said, “we truly hope that your legacy will continue in all of us.”

President Biden joked after Staley’s speech: “All of those of you who hold public office in South Carolina, you better hope she keeps coaching and doesn’t run.”

Vice President Kamala Harris was not at the ceremony, as she was scheduled to debate former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia on ABC at 9 p.m. Tuesady. But she did visit with the Gamecocks ahead of their January home game versus Kentucky while in town for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations.

Since then, Staley has publicly supported President Biden’s decision to not run for reelection and Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Staley also attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month, where Harris officially accepted her party’s nomination

Tuesday marked South Carolina’s first White House visit. The Gamecocks’ 2017 and 2022 squads were unable to make the trip.

Neither Ashlyn Watkins nor Sania Feagin were in attendance.

Watkins was arrested Aug. 31 and charged with assault and kidnapping. USC athletics confirmed Thursday that Watkins’ suspension from team activities was still in place.

Feagin was with the 3x3 U23 national team for the World Cup (Sept. 11-15) in Mongolia. The women begin play Sept. 12 vs. Japan and Italy.

After the ceremony, Staley and her assistant coaches got a tour of the White House. They stopped in the press briefing room to take photos. At one point, Staley did an impression of White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the podium.

“Next question,” Staley said with a serious look on her face. She quickly broke character and laughed along with the rest of the room.

Before she was whisked away to make the flight home, Staley offered one last bit of gratitude from the podium:

“I’m glad to be here. Finally.”