Hotel Owner Bullys an Elderly Janitor... Until Dawn Staley Gets Involved!

Basketball coach Dawn Staley, who took immediate action to stand up for an elderly janitor being mistreated by the hotel owner. The elderly janitor, who had worked at the hotel for years, was being unfairly yelled at and belittled by the hotel owner over a minor mistake.

As the confrontation escalated, Staley, who was staying at the hotel for a coaching event, witnessed the scene and immediately stepped in. Recognizing the injustice of the situation, she approached the hotel owner and firmly asked him to stop. “Everyone deserves respect, no matter their job or age,” Staley said, her voice calm but unwavering.

The hotel owner was initially taken aback, but Staley’s presence and strong stance left him speechless. She then turned to the janitor, offering her support and assuring him that he was valued. Staley later spoke to hotel management, ensuring that the elderly worker would receive the treatment and respect he deserved.

Her quick and compassionate response not only stopped the bullying in its tracks but also set a powerful example of standing up for what’s right. Fans praised Staley for using her voice to defend those who may be overlooked or mistreated.

Texas at South Carolina: Storylines, odds for Sunday’s top-five women’s basketball matchup

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks walks across the court after an NCAA women's basketball game against South Florida Bulls at Colonial Life Arena on December 15, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Dawn Staley and dynastic South Carolina are the reigning champions. Vic Schaefer and Texas are seeking their first national title since 1986. Sunday’s clash is stocked with intrigue, as the Longhorn’s top-ranked offense travels to the Gamecocks as slight road underdogs.

How to watch No. 5 Texas at No. 2 South Carolina

Venue: Colonial Life Arena — Columbia, S.C.
Time: 1 p.m. ET Sunday
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

Watching in-person? Get tickets on StubHub.

Texas has hovered between fourth and sixth in this season’s AP poll. No team in Division I puts more points on the board, paced by All-American Madison Booker. The sophomore forward has upped her efficiency and is a few made free throws shy of a 50/40/90 effort. In Thursday’s demolition of No. 18 Alabama, Booker had 21 points on spectacular 8-of-10 shooting. She’s capable of initiating her own offense and popping out from behind the arc with an array of ball fakes and drive moves that immobilize opponents.

This team lives at the rim and along the foul line. And it consistently wins the turnover battle, coming into Sunday at +30 in three conference games. Eight players average at least one full steal, and senior guard Rori Harmon is putting together another all-defense campaign with 2.6 takeaways per game. Elsewhere, sixth-year big Taylor Jones is third in the SEC in blocked shots, and junior Kyla Oldacre is pulling down almost four offensive rebounds per contest in less than 19 minutes of floor time.

The Longhorns are stellar on defense and a tough out overall, with their one loss coming in overtime at steely Notre Dame. They are 3-1 against ranked teams, but South Carolina will be their most evolved and all-encompassing challenge to date. The defending champs are on a 10-game winning streak, with convincing double-digit victories over No. 8 Duke and No. 9 TCU.

Freshman Joyce Edwards is a bucket off the bench, leading the Gamecocks in scoring despite playing less than 20 minutes per game. And senior Te-Hina Paopao has a well-rounded game with a career 40.8 percent 3-point mark. Aside from its six-point opening-night win over Michigan, every South Carolina win has been a blowout this season. Its one loss came at UCLA, with Staley’s team unable to overcome a Bruins barrage in the first two periods.

In Thursday’s 41-point domination of Texas A&M, the Gamecocks’ offense was firing at max strength. This MiLaysia Fulwiley transition basket was mesmerizing:

Sabreena Merchant’s New Year’s resolution for South Carolina: “Get to line more. The Gamecocks have several positive offensive indicators: They take a ton of shots at the rim, dominate the offensive glass (which results in nearly 10 more shot attempts per game than their opponents), and don’t turn over the ball. The one thing missing for South Carolina is a steady diet of free throws.”

For Texas: “Put up 3s. The Longhorns have an elite defense, but it’s hard to take them seriously as a championship contender in 2025 when they’ve made 63 total 3-pointers through 17 games … Texas needs a little more variety on offense; ideally, Shay Holle gets going from long range, but the spacing has to come from someone.”