Current:Home > ContactDawn Staley rides in Rolls-Royce Dawn for South Carolina's 'uncommon' victory parade -Elevate Capital Network
Dawn Staley rides in Rolls-Royce Dawn for South Carolina's 'uncommon' victory parade
View
Date:2025-04-18 21:59:14
Is there a cooler team than the South Carolina Gamecocks?
The women's college basketball national champions celebrated their second NCAA title in three years on Sunday with a victory parade in Columbia, South Carolina. The Gamecocks beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in Cleveland on April 7.
Head coach Dawn Staley fittingly rolled through the streets of the city in a white Rolls-Royce Dawn. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, expressing the difficulty of thinking what to give the most-fashionable coach in women's college basketball, presented her with a wrestling belt, which she held up to the cheers of the crowd.
A celebration video showed highlights of the Gamecocks' tournament run, which capped off an undefeated season, with the song "We Win" by Kirk Franklin and Lil Baby serving as the soundtrack. Julia Westerman, of local news outlet WIS-10, reported that the Richland County coroner's office had a float with tombstones of each of the teams South Carolina beat en route to the title.
Te-Hina Paopao shared some words about the unity of the team and promised fans, "It's time for our repeat tour."
Kamilla Cardoso skipped orientation for the WNBA draft to be with her teammates. She rode in a gray-green Chevrolet Corvette and hoisted the national championship trophy through the streets.
Once the caravan reached its final destination at the State House, Staley spoke to the crowd wearing a visor, round sunglasses, her beaded necklace and a black T-shirt that said, "You win some, you lose none." She gave some insight into the emotional speech she gave mentioning "uncommon favor" after winning the title game, which was revenge on Iowa after being knocked out of the Final Four last season.
"I don't know that everybody really understands what uncommon favor is," she said. "Uncommon favor is when your mother or your father told you, 'I can show you better than I can tell you.' After we planned to be here last year during this time, it wasn't harvest time. It wasn't. And it was a devastating loss for all who were part of it. And I was hurt deeply, deeply. It didn't destroy my faith, but I did ask why. ... God sometimes says, 'I can show you better than I can tell you.'"
Staley, who is the first Black coach to win three national championships, thanked school administrators, the local media and her team. Her expression of gratitude for the fans continued the theme that this season was extraordinary.
"The love that you pour into us as we drove down main street, it is uncommon," she said, "and I really, really deeply appreciate your love, your unconditional love."
veryGood! (65857)
Related
- Matt Damon remembers pal Robin Williams: 'He was a very deep, deep river'
- For rights campaigner in Greece, same-sex marriage recognition follows decades of struggle
- When does 'American Idol' Season 22 start? Premiere date, how to watch, judges and more
- Why Fans Think Kendall Jenner and Ex Devin Booker Celebrated Super Bowl 2024 Together
- USA men's volleyball mourns chance at gold after losing 5-set thriller, will go for bronze
- The first Black woman in the Mississippi Legislature now has her portrait in the state Capitol
- 'Mama Kelce' gets shout-out from Southwest flight crew on way out of Las Vegas
- 49ers offseason outlook: What will free agency, NFL draft hold for Super Bowl contender?
- USA men's volleyball mourns chance at gold after losing 5-set thriller, will go for bronze
- Usher's Daughter Sovereign, 3, Makes Cute Acting Debut in Music Video
Ranking
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Yes, a lot of people watched the Super Bowl, but the monoculture is still a myth
- Disneyland’s Mickey Mouse and Cinderella performers may unionize
- Serena Williams Shares Empowering Message About Not Having a Picture-Perfect Body
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- New Orleans’ Carnival season marks Fat Tuesday with celebrities and pretend monarchs
- Vice President Harris and governors dish on immigration, abortion, special counsel — but not on dumping Biden
- Mardi Gras 2024: Watch livestream of Fat Tuesday celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana
Recommendation
Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
San Francisco mayor’s race heats up with another challenger to London Breed
Former pro wrestler William Billy Jack Haynes in custody after wife found dead in Oregon home
For rights campaigner in Greece, same-sex marriage recognition follows decades of struggle
Tropical rains flood homes in an inland Georgia neighborhood for the second time since 2016
WWE's Maryse Mizanin to Undergo Hysterectomy After 11 Pre-Cancerous Tumors Found on Ovaries
Voters pick from crowded races for Georgia House and Senate vacancies
Zappos’ 25th Birthday Sale Is Full of Irresistible Shoe Deals From Steve Madden, Coach & More