What South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley has built in Columbia hasn’t just been something that appeared out of thin air. It came through hard work, creating a strong winning culture, and a relentless pursuit of talent, which also included alum Tina Roy.

South Carolina Alum Tina Roy Recalls How Dawn Staley Won Her Pledge

Roy sat down on “The Coop with Olivia Thompson” podcast and recalled an important moment that she shared with Staley that helped in her recruitment.

As she put it, Roy had her heart set on Baylor: “When the recruiting process started, my coach said, ‘If you could play anywhere, where would you want to play?’ At the time, I was like, I wanna play at Baylor. So, Coach Staley starts recruiting me. Coach Staley sent me papers to sign. Baylor calls me the day before.”

At that point, Roy was intent on Baylor, even after Staley had sent her papers to sign. Roy wanted the head coach to know of her intent and that Baylor had invited her for a visit, but that is when Staley told her, “‘Tina, listen, if Baylor wanted you, they would have been on you, like they’d be recruiting you.’ I’m like you’re right.

“She said, ‘We’re about loyalty.’ She said, ‘You signing them papers today.’ I was like, you right. I said you right, I’m coming man.”

She signed with the Gamecocks, and during her senior year in 2015-16, Roy was named team captain and played in every game, starting 13 of them. She was excellent in the SEC and led the league in three-point percentage with a 38.7% mark. She also ranked second in the conference for three-pointers made per game (1.8).

As for Staley, her coaching career has been incredible. Since becoming the head coach at South Carolina in 2008, she has taken the Gamecocks to three NCAA championships. She has also led her team to six Final Four appearances.

Staley has won eight SEC Tournament championships, giving light to the fact that she is one of the best in the game. She is also the first person to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach.

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