Caitlin Clark was celebrated by Dawn Staley after South Carolina won the national championship game last year, but the Gamecocks head coach previously questioned her legacy

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley once said that Caitlin Clark couldn’t be considered the greatest women’s college basketball player of all time, before quickly going back on her original statement.

The Gamecocks hold the No. 1 seed heading into the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament and will look to defend their championship after beating Clark’s Iowa last year. Ahead of the finale last season, Clark broke the NCAA scoring record and the national championship game broke records after gaining more viewers than the men’s final.

Clark never managed to win a national championship before departing the Hawkeyes, and Staley said prior to facing Iowa last season that you could only be considered a great if you win titles. South Carolina went on to win that game 87-75, and Staley performed a major U-turn when praising Clark.

“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” said Staley after March Madness last season. “She carried a heavy load for our sport, and it’s not going to stop here… when she’s the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, she’s going to lift that league as well. So Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there, you are one of the GOATs of our game! And we appreciate you.”

Staley was right, as Clark went on to be selected first overall by the Indiana Fever and won WNBA Rookie of the Year. Clark was touched by Staley’s U-turn, and said during her post-game interview: “Anytime somebody like coach Staley is able to recognize you and what you’ve done for the game is pretty special.

“Honestly, she’s somebody I respect so much – I respect what she’s done for South Carolina. I respect what she did as a player for our game.”

Like Clark, Staley also failed to win a national championship during her collegiate career after spending four years at Virginia. Staley has a lot of respect for championship winners, which led to her previous claim about Clark not qualifying for the GOAT conversation.

“I was really good in college, never won a championship,” Staley said before the championship game last season. “You got to win a championship. You’ve got to win a championship. That’s me personally. Like I had a great career. But it’s always, did you win a championship?

“(We) went to the Final Four three times. We never won. I do think – I agree with Stewie when it comes to winning the championship. We’re going to talk about GOATs, I think she’s the GOAT, to be able to win four National Championships and to be MVP. I think she was MVP all four times.