South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has explained how a "lot of losses" to their male practice team has proven positive for her all-conquering Gamecocks during pre-season.
Gearing up for the start of the new NCAA campaign in November, the three-time Division I champion is looking to inspire her team to glory again next term. Last year could not have gone much better for Staley's awe-inspiring team, after they put together a 38–0 season before clinching the national title.
Now, the coach has revealed how her team is shaping up as she puts her players through their paces ahead of defending last year's championship. Staley explained how the involvement of the Highlighters has proven productive for her group as they look to iron out any issues moving forward.
Speaking about the application of her players during practice, alongside how they have fared during clashes with the male practice team in pre-season, the four-time Naismith Coach of the Year revealed: "I'm incredibly proud of our team. They're locked in, they are competitive.
"I think it's going well. We've taken a lot of losses to the Highlighters the first couple of weeks of practice, but I think now they've stepped it up and they've accepted the challenge," she continued. "Sometimes they let them know about it. It's cool, we are really a tight-knit family."
These words come after Staley waxed lyrical about her players in the lead up to their recent demolition of the Memphis Tigers at the FedExForum. Prior to the 106-63 mauling, she sent out a warning to the Gamecocks' rivals, saying: "We’re better than we were last year at this time, I will say that.
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"Just psychologically, having a better understanding of who we are and what’s our identity, we’re much better off," she asserted. "I mean, there’s some carryover from the success that we had last year. They knew what it took. It took a team full of players to get it done."
Explaining their role in practice, Highlighters player Max Holzman explained to the Carolina News and Reporter : "We’re not there to shine ourselves and play flashy. We’re there to help them get better and prepare for whoever the week’s opponent is.
"It’s really cool to be able to experience it and play with the best players in the country every day. They’re the best players in the country, but also the best coaching staff in the country. It’s cool to be able to say you were coached by Dawn Staley , who is a legend.”
Freddy Ready, the women’s director of player development is charged with looking after practice squad and also described how Highlighters have made an impact behind the scenes. Explaining their approach, he said: "When we make a shot on the girls, they show it.
"They make a lot of noise and when the girls make a shot on the guys, they let them know as well," he continued, before speaking positively about the healthy competition between all involved, adding: "It’s a brother-sister relationship. They are part of the team. We are one, and they love the friendly competition."
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