Following No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball’s 71-57 win over No. 9 NC State, head coach Dawn Staley spoke to the media about the victory. Here’s what she had to say.

— Thanks all the people that put on the Ally Tip-Off in Charlotte. Just a reminder of where women’s basketball is. Appreciates the first class game ran for the team and how they were treated this weekend. Also appreciates all the fans of all the teams that came out to support. Says women’s basketball won today.

Nov 10, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley during the first half against the NC State Wolfpack at the Ally Tip Off at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

— Couldn’t have imagined how much this game has grown to where it is now. She didn’t have that outlet when she was growing up. Her goals and dreams were to play in the NBA. The WNBA wasn’t thought about. She wanted to play in the Olympics. Those were her goals: to be a gold medalist and national champion. For the younger players today, they’re lifting this sport. Whatever she could’ve imagined, she doesn’t think it could’ve turned out as beautiful as what the sport is experiencing right now.

— Says Chloe Kitts will only be out for the one game she missed on Sunday. She didn’t play against the Wolfpack due to an “academic policy issue.”

— Tessa Johnson “tweaked her ankle a little bit.” She only played nine minutes on Sunday.

— Thought they won the game over a 40-minute period. Thought there was a lot of help on defense. The team was able to scramble out of situations to recover. Didn’t put a whole lot of points on the score board but was very pleased with their defensive effort and how they smothered NC State.

— When they opened up the game in the second half, they knew there was another run coming. This game is great but it also reveals some of your weaknesses. They know of them because they’ve played in this type of game. You can beat someone by 50 points and you can pay for guaranteed games, but you can’t pay for the lessons that you get to put the players through. And they learn from them.

— On this same point from above, she brings up Milaysia Fulwiley and says she brings an “incredible gift” to the game. But at the same time, there’s some things she does out there that make you scratch your head. But it’s all learning. Fulwiley can’t learn while being up 50 points in a game. Loves the fact they put the schedule the way they did to challenge themselves. Working towards playing in March and April during the early months of November and December with the games they’re playing right now.

— South Carolina responded well after a close win over Michigan in the season opener. They had Tuesday off, got back to work on Wednesday and discussed exactly what was going on from that game and why. Once they did that, they moved forward. Says this game against NC State was their normal. The Wolfpack are a scrappy team that they’re used to seeing.

— Very fortunate to have the FAMs travel to their games, regardless of where they are playing. They’re always coming. Charlotte has embraced her and she’s embraced the city. To see her career come full circle and be close to Charlotte again, she never imagined being here in this capacity as a coach. It’s a great venue and opportunity for women’s basketball. Just so happy that the team had a chance to be a part of this.

— It would be incredible to see Charlotte host a Final Four for March Madness with women’s basketball. She’s been a part of the WNBA franchise here and has seen people come to watch them play. Thinks this is a prime spot for a WNBA team and the Final Four. You see this city, they just embrace the game.

— Any time you have great guards like NC State does, they’re going to give you a shot. The bigs are going to get better. They just lack some experience. South Carolina has been there before where several of its bigs lacked experience at one point. The Wolfpack played a small lineup to get back in the game in the fourth quarter. So until their bigs get up to speed, they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.