Dawn Staley issues statement following NCAA’s decision to cancel women’s basketball season
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Dawn Staley’s South Carolina squad is currently ranked as the No. 1 in the nation after racking up a 32-1 record this season.
The Gamecocks likely would have entered the 2020 NCAA women’s tournament as the favorite to capture the national title but will obviously not have the chance to prove themselves in the event, as the NCAA canceled the event along with the men’s tournament and all winter and spring championship sports on Thursday in reaction to the spread of the coronavirus.
Following that news, Staley issued the following statement:
“This is a difficult time with so many conflicting emotions. First and foremost, we have to recognize how important it is to do the right thing for our community. Sports is a big part of our lives, but just one part of how we are connected to each other. We need to step back and think about the larger good served by canceling events that put people at risk.
“As competitors, we are certainly disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to contend for a second National Championship. That said, it will not diminish the way we look at our season, how we value our body of work over the last few four months. We have measured ourselves against the best in the country over that time, and will embrace and relish that accomplishment.
“For our seniors and the others throughout the country, who will not have the chance to finish their careers the way they expected to – that’s a tougher, more emotional thing to process. Again, we have to lean on that this is the right thing for everyone’s health and safety.”
.@dawnstaley on SportsCenter tonight: "I was dreading having to text our team, especially our seniors, that they won't be able to realize their dreams after having a dream season." @abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/Kta8cQIGmz
— Mike Gillespie (@MikeAGillespie) March 12, 2020
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
