Dawn Staley's NCAA Tournament Records and March Madness History with South Carolina

The legendary South Carolina women's basketball coach has led the Gamecocks to unprecedented success in the NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:03am

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Dawn Staley is making her 14th NCAA Tournament appearance as the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team. Staley has led the Gamecocks to five straight Final Four appearances and three national championship game appearances, winning the title in 2017, 2022, and 2024. She is the second-winningest coach in SEC Tournament history and has produced 18 WNBA draft selections during her tenure. Staley recently became the highest-paid college women's basketball coach in history with a new contract worth over $25 million.

Why it matters

Staley's sustained excellence with the Gamecocks has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in women's basketball history. Her ability to recruit top talent and lead her teams deep into the NCAA Tournament year after year has made South Carolina a perennial powerhouse and one of the premier programs in the sport.

The details

Staley was hired by South Carolina in 2008 and has led the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament in every season except 2019-20, when the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. South Carolina won the SEC Tournament in 2020 and was projected as the No. 1 overall seed that year. This season, the Gamecocks are the No. 4 overall seed and the No. 1 seed in the Sacramento 4 Regional. They are seeking their fourth national championship and third straight title game appearance. Staley was also a standout player, leading Virginia to the Final Four as a sophomore in 1990 and winning the Naismith Player of the Year award as a junior in 1991.

  • Staley was hired by South Carolina in 2008.
  • Staley's first NCAA Tournament appearance with the Gamecocks was in the 2012 season.
  • South Carolina won the SEC Tournament in 2020, but the NCAA Tournament was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Staley's Gamecocks have been to the last five Final Fours and are seeking a sixth straight this tournament.
  • On January 17, 2025, Staley became the highest-paid college women's basketball coach in history with a new contract worth over $25 million.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who has led the program to unprecedented success in the NCAA Tournament, including five straight Final Four appearances and three national championships.

A'ja Wilson

The first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, who was recruited and developed by Staley at South Carolina.

Aliyah Boston

The second overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, another star player developed by Staley at South Carolina.

Pat Summitt

The legendary former head coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, who holds the record for the most regular-season SEC championships with 17, one more than Staley.

Vic Schaefer

The current head coach of the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team, who previously won two SEC regular-season titles and one SEC Tournament championship with Mississippi State.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Gamecocks will face the winner of the SAMFORD/SOUTHERN matchup in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21.

The takeaway

Dawn Staley's sustained excellence at South Carolina has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in women's basketball history. Her ability to recruit top talent and lead her teams deep into the NCAA Tournament year after year has made the Gamecocks a perennial powerhouse and one of the premier programs in the sport.