About Features Deadline work Analysis Multimedia Contact

Deadline work

The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

How South Carolina shut down nation's best-shooting team to beat UConn in Final Four

PHOENIX — Tessa Johnson's message in the huddle was stern."Five minutes, five minutes," the junior guard yelled with the clock at 5:53.South Carolina women's basketball had a five-point lead over UConn, the No. 1 overall seed that came into the Final Four with a 54-game winning streak. Two of those wins were blowouts over South Carolina last season, including the national championship game.But there was still game left to play.From beginning to end, the defensive clinic from the Gamecocks (35-3)...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

South Carolina gets 'elite' Joyce Edwards just in time with UConn's Sarah Strong up next

SACRAMENTO, CA — In Joyce Edwards' first Elite Eight game, she wasn't on the floor for South Carolina women's basketball to finish the game.

Then a freshman, she had just four points and one rebound. One year later, there's no Final Four appearance for the Gamecocks without Edwards.

She had 24 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two assists in the 78-52 win over No. 3 TCU (32-5) on March 30.

The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (35-3) advanced to their sixth straight Final Four, where they'll play UCon...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

South Carolina, Dawn Staley get big Ta'Niya Latson game they expected in Sweet 16

SACRAMENTO, CA — It was South Carolina women's basketball 12th Women's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game but for transfer Ta'Niya Latson, it was her first.

But that didn't appear to matter, as Latson scored a game-high 28 points for the No. 1 seed Gamecocks (34-3) in the 94-68 victory over No. 4 seed Oklahoma (26-8) on March 28.

"I was feeling really good tonight," Latson said. "I woke up on the right side of the bed. My teammates and my coaches, they believed in me. I just had to go out there wit...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

How Raven Johnson made Dawn Staley sweat a little after 'storybook' final home game

COLUMBIA — Raven Johnson walked off the court one last time in Colonial Life Arena clapping to the beat of the crowd chanting her name.

South Carolina women's basketball fans weren't going to let the fifth-year point guard go out unnoticed or uncelebrated.

Johnson got to soak in all she's done for the program stress-free. The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (33-3) beat No. 9 Southern Cal 101-61 in the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament March 23, allowing coach Dawn Staley to pull her most vital...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

Why Tessa Johnson's first South Carolina double-double meant so much to junior guard

COLUMBIA — Tessa Johnson giggled before she said, "This is going to sound very bad."But I've been trying to rebound this season, it just sometimes doesn't work out for me and today it did."Johnson had first career double-double for South Carolina women's basketball and found herself fielding questions about rebounding, a uncommon topic for the shooting guard.She scored 14 points with her career-high 10 rebounds in the 103-34 victory over No. 16 seed Southern in the March Madness first-round game...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

How Raven Johnson's one-year turnaround put South Carolina past LSU, again

GREENVILLE —  Patches of purple and gold poked through the sea of garnet in the crowd of Bon Secours Arena, hoping maybe this is the year.

Maybe for the first time since 2011, LSU would beat South Carolina women's basketball.

But fifth-year point guard Raven Johnson dribbled the third quarter clock down to 1.5 seconds, spun and stepped back into a jumper over two defenders.

Swish.

Johnson scored 12 in the third quarter of the SEC Tournament semifinal for the No. 1 seed Gamecocks (31-2) to fi...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

Why Dawn Staley called South Carolina's lowest point total of season a 'confidence-builder'

South Carolina women's basketball scored a season-low 60 points but it was enough to beat No. 18 Kentucky 60-56 and end the 2025-26 regular season with just one SEC loss.With nine SEC teams ranked in the USA TODAY coaches poll, it's no small feat finishing at least two wins ahead of everyone else, but the March 1 road victory in Lexington wasn't easy.The No. 3 Gamecocks (29-2, 15-1 SEC) had a comfortable 54-41 lead after three quarters before the Wildcats (21-9, 8-8) went on a 8-0 run. South Car...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

What Dawn Staley will miss most about South Carolina star Raven Johnson

COLUMBIA — There was no chance the crowd in Colonial Life Arena wasn't going to let Raven Johnson know they appreciated her time with South Carolina women's basketball.The fifth-year point guard was one of four seniors honored ahead of the 112-71 win over Missouri on Feb. 26 but the only one to spend her entire career with coach Dawn Staley.Before Johnson made a career-high four 3-pointers to finish with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, a steal and zero turnovers, the crowd gave her a sta...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

What Dawn Staley, Kim Mulkey said decided South Carolina win vs LSU

BATON ROUGE, LA — LSU coach Kim Mulkey was at a loss to explain a key factor in South Carolina women's basketball's 79-72 win on Feb. 14.What will haunt the No. 6 Tigers (22-4, 8-4) is a lack of success from the free throw line.LSU was 14-of-23, and the No. 3 Gamecocks (25-2, 11-1 SEC) were 15-of-17."I'm not real sure, if I knew that I'd be in psychology," Mulkey said when asked why a team that shoots 74% from the line shot 61%. "Got to the free throw line, so reward yourself."In the fourth quar...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

How Ta'Niya Latson left her worst game behind quickly in South Carolina rout of Vanderbilt

COLUMBIA — After scoring a season-low six points, South Carolina women's basketball starting guard Ta'Niya Latson had a few options.

She could let the 1-for-10 shooting night in the loss to No. 16 Oklahoma on Jan. 22 linger.

Or she could score 10 points in the first 10 minutes against No. 4 Vanderbilt on Jan. 25. She did the latter.

Latson had a team-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting with five rebounds and five assists in the 103-74 win.

"It's mainly from self-motivation, I knew it wasn't m...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

UConn denies South Carolina women's basketball, Dawn Staley another national championship

TAMPA, Fla. — All good things must come to an end, including for South Carolina women's basketball. The repeat tour came to a screeching halt at Amalie Arena.

South Carolina, hoping to win back-to-back national titles and the fourth for coach Dawn Staley, fell 82-59 to UConn on Sunday.

The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (35-4), who won titles in 2017, 2022 and last season, were thoroughly dominated by the second-seeded Huskies (37-3).

Freshman forward Sarah Strong and veteran guard Azzi Fudd, each with...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

How MiLaysia Fulwiley bounced back, kept South Carolina, Dawn Staley in March Madness

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. − The poetry was halfway in motion when South Carolina women's basketball sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley heard a challenge she couldn't turn down.

The Sweet 16, No. 1 Gamecocks (33-3) vs. No. 4 Maryland, 26.9 seconds left in the third quarter with the scored tied. Fulwiley had two Terps (25-8) trailing her on a fast break and as she got closer to the basket, another approached.

"They were like, 'Come on, come on, she's not going to score this,'" Fulwiley said.

Fulwiley was...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

Te-Hina Paopao saves South Carolina's season after shocking start vs Indiana, then blows kisses to the crowd

COLUMBIA — South Carolina women's basketball's fifth-year guard Te-Hina Paopao walked off the court in Colonial Life Arena one last time with a smile on her face, a towel on her neck and blew kisses to the crowd.

She has one national championship already and on Sunday, she was huge reason the No. 1 seed Gamecocks (32-3) get to continue their hunt for another, rallying to beat No. 9 seed Indiana 64-53.

A hard-fought effort from the Hoosiers (20-13) and abysmal Gamecocks shooting in the first ha...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

What Madison Booker told Bree Hall, why it motivated her in South Carolina's SEC win vs Texas

GREENVILLE — Bree Hall woke up Sunday morning and texted her parents."I'm shutting her down," was the message from the South Carolina women's basketball guard, referring to Texas star sophomore and SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker."I woke up with the mindset of 'I have to get her,' " Hall told The Greenville News in the locker room at Bon Secours Wellness Arena after No. 1 seed South Carolina (30-3) defeated No. 2 seed Texas 64-45 for the SEC tournament championship. "I know after that game...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

How South Carolina basketball reserve Maryam Dauda contained Oklahoma's star in SEC semi

GREENVILLE — South Carolina women's basketball had a tall task — literally.

The top-seeded Gamecocks (29-3) were about to face Raegan Beers, the 6-foot-4 center on fifth-seeded Oklahoma (25-7) who put up 23 points in 24 minutes against them on Jan. 19 — the star player who is averaging 17.8 points per game in her first SEC season.

In Saturday's 93-75 SEC Tournament semifinal win at Bon Secours Arena, Sania Feagin started the game covering Beers and did her job. What made an enormous difference...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

How South Carolina's Raven Johnson did exactly what Dawn Staley needed to beat LSU, Kim Mulkey

COLUMBIA — Sometimes all it takes is one play. Or two.Or maybe it's two plays that fuels a sequence, that fuels a sold-out crowd to get even louder.In the top-4 matchup, Raven Johnson scored just five points in 28 minutes of play, but four points in a five-second span were instrumental in No. 2 South Carolina women's basketball's 66-56 win over No. 4 LSU.Up 41-36 with 5:23 in the third, Sania Feagin stole the ball and found Johnson for the layup. As the Tigers (20-1, 5-1 SEC) inbounded, Johnson...
The Greenville News/USA TODAY Network •

LaNorris Sellers became 'LaMagic' to lead South Carolina football to most important win of 2024

CLEMSON — The frustration, the confusion, was obvious."HOW DOES HE KEEP DOING THAT?" a Clemson fan yelled, looking around at the fans next to him for answers.Fans in the student section of Memorial Stadium were hoping, audibly begging, that the magic of South Carolina football quarterback LaNorris Sellers wouldn't kiss their team's playoff hopes goodbye.With the Gamecocks trailing 14-10 on third-and-16 with 1:18 to play, the ball was snapped and Sellers' pocket instantly dwindled. His options we...
BostonGlobe.com •

Westford’s Megan Frazee, Pentucket’s Alex Bishop earn high fives for state pentathlon victories - The Boston Globe

Frazee took home first place in the pentathlon on Day 1 of the MIAA Meet of Champions with a total score of 3,313. During the entirety of the event, Frazee bounced back and forth between five events and the individual pole vault competition, in which she also finished first with a top height of 3.50 meters.On Thursday morning, the now-senior woke up, put on her gap and gown, and headed to graduation rehearsal. From there she drove to Westfield State University and added two state titles to her...
BostonGlobe.com •

Mansfield girls buzzing after dominant Division 3 victory on track; Bradley Diaz rallies Wakefield boys - The Boston Globe

Mansfield finished with 105 points, well ahead of runner-up Melrose (76), as a total team effort brought home the state title.Even if the girls sank in the 4x400-meter relay, Mansfield would still win the team championship. Instead, the Hornets were crowned queen bees, winning the race to cap a dominant final day at Westfield State.WESTFIELD — The Mansfield girls track and field team couldn’t take a deep breath until the final event Sunday. With one remaining, the Hornets had a large lead on Mel...
BostonGlobe.com •

Billerica freshman Nyrah Joseph arrives, takes home Division 3 girls’ pentathlon - The Boston Globe

To kick off the day, Joseph pulled out a personal best in the 100-meter hurdles (16.72 seconds), setting the tone from the get-go that even as a rookie, she was there to make noise. Even with a smile on her face and temporary excitement following the hot start, latter events maintained more headspace.Joseph, just a freshman at Billerica, took home first place in the girls’ pentathlon at the MIAA Division 3 track & field championship with 2,596 points.WESTFIELD — Nyrah Joseph has no pre-meet ritu...
BostonGlobe.com •

Despite early deficit, all signs point to historic state championship for St. John’s Prep wrestling - The Boston Globe

“Honestly, I felt pretty comfortable,” Knox said. “I knew that the guys we had in the semis were going to get it done and bonus their way into the finals. So I wasn’t worried about it too much.”Despite the deficit, the Eagles were not worried. Tyler Knox, who pinned his way through the bracket to take home the 126-pound title, knew the team had a strong group of wrestlers in both the championship and consolation brackets who would come up big for Prep.FITCHBURG — St. John’s Prep went into the se...