Joe Biden Pays Tribute to Dawn Staley and South Carolina Women’s Basketball National Champions

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden praised the recognition given to NCAA basketball champions South Carolina and their coach Dawn Staley for helping to spark interest in women’s sports during a White House ceremony Tuesday to commemorate their historic title.

South Carolina went 38-0 en route to her latest women’s title. It was Staley’s third championship with the Gamecocks since 2017.

The championship game between South Carolina and Iowa drew more viewers than this year’s men’s championship final, averaging 18.7 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, with a peak of 24 million.

“I think it’s fair to say that everybody, everybody is watching women’s sports now,” Biden said at the ceremony. “When new fans watch for the first time, when young girls see their idols, they see the power of your example.”

Biden to honor Connecticut men’s basketball team Tuesday. UConn coach Dan Hurley’s men’s team won 37-3 second title in a row.

South Carolina’s spotless year came even after Staley, a Philadelphia native, lost all five starters from her 2023 team that was defeated in the Final Four. The Gamecocks dominated throughout their historic season, leading the nation in scoring defense, margin of victory and blocks.

It was South Carolina’s first visit to the White House. Staley and the Gamecocks did not travel to the White House after winning championships in 2017 and 2022. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the team when she was in Columbia, South Carolina, earlier this year.

Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and coach of the U.S. women’s basketball team in Tokyo three years ago, recently served as a member of the presidential delegation to the Paris Olympics.

The Gamecocks’ ceremony Tuesday was attended by several prominent current and former South Carolina politicians, including Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, Democratic Rep. James Clyburn and former Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, who is now a senior adviser to the president.

Biden joked that South Carolina public officials could have some stiff competition if the popular Staley tried his hand at politics.

“All of you who hold public office in South Carolina should hope that she stays on as coach and doesn’t run,” Biden said of Staley.