BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina is known as a dominant force in women’s basketball, proven by an undefeated run and national championship last season and a 33-3 record this year. Not only are the Gamecocks dynamic on the floor – they show through their social media that they have a strong bond off of it.
Through the regular season and NCAA Tournament, the Gamecocks have posted fun TikToks and Instagram reels, following different trends and getting the whole team in short videos. But now, after back-to-back nail-biter wins against No. 9 Indiana and No. 4 Maryland, not everyone tuning in is happy.
Rapper Plies, a South Carolina superfan, tweeted echoes of criticism the Gamecocks got after their 71-67 win versus the Terrapins on Friday. His post on X read, in part: “WE NEED TO BE IN THE GYM GETTING UP SHOTS!!! TIME TO LOCK IN OR WE GOING HOME!!”
Plies gifted head coach Dawn Staley a gem-studded chain ahead of March Madness, and attended the Gamecocks’ second-round game versus Indiana.
“I’m all about winning, and it’ll just be important for me to just solely focus on winning, not worry about anything that anybody has to say,” senior guard Bree Hall said Saturday, ahead of the No. 1 Gamecocks’ Elite Eight matchup against No. 2 Duke on Sunday.
Staley is featured in some of the players’ TikTok and Instagram videos.
“That’s part of decompressing,” Staley said. “That’s part of not sitting in your room and visualizing how you want to play. You can’t do that for hours on end, you would drive yourself crazy. So, them having an outlet is always a great thing.”
In an era of players with phones and other devices, Staley explained, allowing them space to relax is important.
“People think that basketball should be serious all the time, and it’s not fun when it’s serious all the time,” junior forward and SEC Tournament MVP Chloe Kitts said.
South Carolina came out of its locker room early before its Sweet 16 game against Maryland on Friday to watch the Duke-UNC matchup. The Gamecocks had focused game faces as they watched their Elite Eight opponents come out on top 47-38.
After their slim victory over the Terrapins, the Gamecocks had no celebration, going so far as to say it
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