COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gamecocks head basketball coach Dawn Staley now has the flag that flew over the state's capitol building after her team won the national championship earlier this year.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and First Lady Peggy McMaster presented Staley with the flag Wednesday at the women's basketball team offices. The black banner with a Gamecock logo had been framed.
"We look forward to celebrating more championships in the years ahead!" McMaster wrote on social media about the presentation.
The banner flew starting the night of April 7, 2024, hours after the team won the national championship by beating Iowa 87-75. It was placed below the U.S. and South Carolina flag on the pole attached to the dome of the South Carolina State House. It stayed there through the next day.
It's become custom for the flag of the college that wins a national championship to be flown over the State House. It was raised for USC's other two basketball titles, Clemson's two football championship, and Coastal Carolina's baseball championship..
The Gamecocks completed a perfect season this past year, going 38-0, the first undefeated season in program history, and only the 10th in women's college basketball all-time. It's also the third title program in South Carolina women's basketball history and the second in the last three years.