‘She’s the One I’ll Miss the Most’: Dawn Staley’s Emotional Admission Looms as War of Words Heats Up Before SEC Semifinal vs. LSU
GREENVILLE, SC – The stage is set for another seismic collision in the Southeastern Conference. As the No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks prepare to face the No. 4 seed LSU Tigers in the SEC Tournament semifinals, the rivalry has reached a fever pitch. But beyond the X’s and O’s, it is a series of comments from Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley—both subtle and profound—that have sent a massive warning shot across the bow of Kim Mulkey’s Tigers.
Ahead of the Saturday afternoon showdown at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Staley’s recent words regarding her own players, her history with LSU, and the stakes of the game have created a psychological backdrop that looms just as large as the final score .
The “Boo” Birds and the Hoodie Heard ‘Round the South
The genesis of the current tension dates back to February 14, when Staley walked into the notoriously hostile Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge and walked out with a 79-72 victory—her 500th career win at South Carolina and the program’s 18th consecutive triumph over the Tigers . However, it wasn’t just the win that left a mark; it was the fashion statement.
Staley and her coaching staff donned white hoodies emblazoned with a single word: “Boo” . The sweatshirts were a sly, unapologetic callback to a moment in 2024 when Staley was asked about the unfriendly LSU crowd. Her response at the time was a masterclass in cool: “Actually they were, they were calling me boo” .
After the February victory, Staley confirmed the intent was anything but accidental. “We were just trying to figure out what to wear,” she explained with a straight face. “Our staff wanted to wear white, and somebody else brought up, ‘Let’s do the “Boo” hoodies.’ I think everybody stayed in character because I heard a lot of boos again” . In a rivalry defined by elite talent and national championships, Staley proved she is just as comfortable landing psychological jabs as she is coaching a pick-and-roll.
The Fulwiley Factor and the Johnson Standard
While the “Boo” hoodies provided a moment of levity, Staley’s most pointed remarks have been reserved for the players themselves. Much of the pregame narrative has centered on LSU guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who transferred from South Carolina to LSU in the offseason. When asked about facing her former player, Staley was characteristically dismissive of the “revenge game” hype.
“The MiLaysia dynamic, that’s the narrative that’s created to drum up the publicity for the game. For us, it’s not,” Staley said ahead of the February matchup. “She was treated as Mikaylah Williams. She was treated as Flau’jae Johnson. We’re not putting anything extra, we’re not going to do anything to her that is outside the norm” .
In the February meeting, the strategy worked to perfection. Fulwiley struggled mightily, shooting just 1-of-8 from the floor against her former teammates .
But it was Staley’s comments regarding her own guard, Raven Johnson, that served as the most devastating critique of the Tigers’ program by comparison. In a moment of raw honesty following the LSU win, Staley was asked about her senior point guard. She didn’t just praise her; she etched her into program lore.
“Raven Johnson is a winner. Look it up in the dictionary, look it up on your iPhones, Raven Johnson is a winner,” Staley told the ESPN set . Then came the admission that sent shockwaves through the college basketball world.
“I’ll say this,” Staley added, her voice heavy with the weight of a legacy that includes coaching icons like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston. “She’s probably the one that I’ll miss the most, out of all the players that I’ve coached” .
The message to LSU was clear: South Carolina is not just reloading with talent; it is fostering a culture of winners that Staley values above even the most decorated stars of the past. Raven Johnson backed up the talk with a career-high 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the win, while Tessa Johnson added 21 points, silencing the LSU crowd .
LSU’s Redemption Arc
On the other side of the court, the Tigers are not lacking for motivation. For LSU star Flau’jae Johnson, the sting of the February loss is still fresh. Johnson missed two critical free throws with 45 seconds left in that game that could have given LSU the lead, and she has been waiting for this rematch ever since .
“I’m super-excited,” Johnson said after LSU dismantled Oklahoma in the quarterfinals to set up the semifinal clash. “I’ve learned you’ve got to keep your head up, and you’ve got to look forward. Ball it up, good or bad, and let it go. You always get another opportunity” .
Johnson is averaging 21 points in her last two outings and represents the primary threat to a Gamecocks defense that has looked vulnerable on the offensive glass. Staley herself admitted after the February game that the rebounding battle was a major concern. The Tigers grabbed 18 offensive rebounds in that contest, a stat Staley called “surprising” and noted that, against most teams, such dominance on the boards “means they win basketball games like this” .
“We got lucky,” Staley admitted, referencing Johnson’s missed free throws. “Flau’jae doesn’t miss free throws” .
The Mulkey-Staley Axis
The semifinal also represents the latest chapter in one of the sport’s most compelling coaching rivalries. Kim Mulkey, since taking over at LSU, has yet to solve the Staley puzzle. She is 0-6 against the Gamecocks, the only SEC team she has failed to defeat .
While Mulkey has attempted to downplay the streak, the numbers are damning. Staley, meanwhile, has built a program that not only wins but thrives on the road, in hostile environments, and under the brightest lights.
As the teams prepare to tip off on Saturday, Staley’s words hang in the air. Whether it was the sartorial savagery of the “Boo” hoodies, the cold strategy of neutralizing a transfer, or the heart-wrenching praise of a player she values above all others, Staley has redefined the terms of engagement.
She has sent a message that LSU is not just facing a team; they are facing a standard. And as Flau’jae Johnson looks for her “redemption shot” and Mulkey searches for her first win against the Goliath of the SEC, they must contend with a coach who has already proven she knows exactly how to get under their skin and stay there .
