UConn completely dominated South Carolina in the 2025 Women's College Basketball Championship Game, 82-59, and Gamecocks' head coach Dawn Staley had an uncharacteristic sideline breakdown as the game got out of hand in the second half.
What was billed as a potential clash of two titan programs and legendary coaches turned out to be a one-sided bludgeoning with one of those coaches losing her cool before the game was even over.
Dawn Staley WAS NOT HAPPY 😳#SouthCarolina | #UConnpic.twitter.com/VtpKA3nCRi
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) April 6, 2025
Don’t ever think I have seen Dawn Staley swear on national television 📺 pic.twitter.com/roSwCvWmiw
— Jeannie (@jeanniebrichett) April 6, 2025
Dawn Staley is NOT pleased over that foul call to Joyce Edwards.
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) April 6, 2025
🎥 @TWDTV1 https://t.co/DfO71kTDhq pic.twitter.com/vyjkHCnIfi
ABC/ESPN then made the great decision to interview Staley at the end of the 3rd quarter while her team was down 20 points. Her reaction wasn't exactly what you normally get from an in-game interview with a coach. Not only did she look defeated, but she talked it, too.
Holly Rowe: "Who else can score for you right now? Where do those points come from?"
— Jennifer X. Williams (@JenXperience) April 6, 2025
Dawn Staley: "I don't know."#NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/k1K45K7ook
While Staley melted down, her legion of haters raised up and mercilessly goaded the South Carolina coach.
I love seeing Dawn Staley lose
— Ant. (@the_adavis2) April 6, 2025
Dawn Staley getting exposed is fun to watch. Much harder to coach when your team isn't the superior talented team.
— John Williams (@WilliamsJohn27) April 6, 2025
UConn just beat the crap out of the Lady Gamecocks. I feel for the players, but we absolutely CAN NOT STAND their coach, Dawn Staley. She's the Jasmine Crockett of NCAA women's basketball. Seriously.
— scgrl625 (@scgrl625) April 6, 2025
let’s all have a nice, long laugh at dawn staley’s expense
— Justin Credible (@GravySauceCream) April 6, 2025
The Dawn Staley hate was strong with this one.
Not gonna lie: Seeing Dawn Staley throwing tantrums on the sidelines, because for the first time in years she doesn't have the more talented team is quite possibly the most beautiful these eyes have ever seen
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) April 6, 2025
Others recognized Dawn Staley's anger and wanted to have a little fun at her expense
dawn staley ripping every piece of turquoise of that track suit after the game… pic.twitter.com/XmwdRN1frn
— Myles Snowden (@airbustasnow) April 6, 2025
The way Dawn Staley is going to yell in that locker room #NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/Y7MRbPPIh6
— ayesaygang (@chilombooo1) April 6, 2025
The camera operator to Dawn Staley every time something bad happens to South Carolina pic.twitter.com/3DBjcoZLKb
— Wilnir Louis (@LouisWilnir) April 6, 2025
It stands to reason that when you are as successful as Staley and have become an iconic figure in a sport, people will relish when you fall or suffer. This may not have been South Carolina's day, but it's absurd to think Staley won't have this team in a position to content for a national title again next year.