COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCIV) — A trio of standouts drafted within minutes of each other elicited a worthy reaction from South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.

Guard Te-Hina Paopao was selected No. 18 overall by the Atlanta Dream, guard Bree Hall was drafted No. 20 by the Indiana Fever and forward Sania Feagin went to the Los Angeles Sparks at pick No. 21. It was the first time Staley didn’t have a player drafted in the first round in three seasons. But the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft clearly made up for it.

“Thank you Lord,” Staley wrote on social media. “Proud of @GamecockWBB @tehinapaopa0 @breezyhalll @supremenia for being selected in the @WNBA draft. @AtlantaDream @IndianaFever @LASparks yall have some class act human beings and highly tested talented individuals! Let’s gooooo!!!”

WNBA training camp begins on April 27, a quick turnaround for the Gamecocks players who went up against UConn and superstar Paige Bueckers. After being drafted in the second round, and with the 12-person roster limit in the WNBA, all three players drafted out of South Carolina will have to prove they belong on a professional roster.

If Hall makes the roster, she will reunite with former teammate Aliyah Boston, who was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft by Indiana.

Dawn Staley Makes Major Personal Announcement After NCAA Tournament

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team, Dawn Staley, has accomplished an impressive list of feats in her career.

During her college playing days, she earned the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year twice.

She was a first-round pick by the Charlotte Sting and went on to become a 6-time WNBA All-Star. Staley was also named to both the WNBA 10th and 15th Anniversary Teams.

As a coach, she has led her team to three NCAA Tournament titles, with the most recent coming in 2024.

She is a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Despite all those accolades, the most recent news for Coach Staley may be the most impressive.

Staley posted on her personal social media page that she has officially released her own book, “Uncommon Favor.”

“t’s book season,” Staley posted. “My book UNCOMMON FAVOR is ready for your learning reading, leisure reading, book club reading, audio listening and all the convenience of just hanging out with you and my book. Super excited to take you on this journey! Link in the bio!”

Staley has been the head coach of the Gamecocks since the 2008–2009 season. After a slow start—compiling a 42–48 record over her first three seasons—she has led South Carolina to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 13 seasons.

In 2025, South Carolina finished 35-4 and fell in the national championship game to the UConn Huskies.

The 2023–2024 Gamecocks went a perfect 38-0 and captured the NCAA Tournament title. South Carolina has reached the Final Four in five consecutive seasons, appearing in the title game in three of them.