Dawn Staley Praises Lady Vols Freshman Mia Pauldo Ahead of Matchup

South Carolina coach lauds Pauldo's well-rounded play as Tennessee prepares to visit No. 3 Gamecocks

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:15pm

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South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley had high praise for Tennessee freshman point guard Mia Pauldo ahead of the Lady Vols' upcoming matchup with the Gamecocks. Staley highlighted Pauldo's scoring, playmaking, defense, and overall comfort on the court as the 5'6" New Jersey native has emerged as a key contributor for No. 17 Tennessee this season.

Why it matters

Pauldo's strong start to SEC play has been crucial for the Lady Vols, who are looking to knock off the third-ranked Gamecocks on the road. Staley's comments underscore Pauldo's growing reputation as an impactful two-way player in the highly competitive SEC.

The details

Pauldo is averaging 12.2 points, 2.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game this season. In SEC play, her 16.2 points per game leads the team, and she has scored 20+ points three times, including a career-high 26 at Mississippi State. Pauldo played a key role in Tennessee's overtime win at Georgia on Feb. 6, scoring 21 points and going 9-for-10 from the free throw line.

  • Tennessee will play at No. 3 South Carolina on Feb. 8 (3 p.m. ET, ABC).
  • Pauldo scored 21 points in Tennessee's overtime win at Georgia on Feb. 6.

The players

Mia Pauldo

A 5'6" freshman point guard for the Tennessee Lady Vols, Pauldo has emerged as a key contributor in SEC play, leading the team in scoring at 16.2 points per game.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, Staley praised Pauldo's well-rounded play ahead of the matchup between South Carolina and Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“Just the evolution of her. She is scoring the ball, she is managing their team, she's getting people involved. She's play making, she's defending, like she's actually being just impactful on both sides of the basketball, very comfortable in her skin.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

What’s next

The highly anticipated matchup between No. 17 Tennessee and No. 3 South Carolina will take place on Feb. 8 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

The takeaway

Mia Pauldo's strong start to SEC play has made her a rising star in the conference, and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley's praise underscores the freshman point guard's well-rounded impact for the Lady Vols. Tennessee will need Pauldo to continue her stellar play if they hope to upset the third-ranked Gamecocks on the road.