Dawn Staley Talks Difference Between Paige Bueckers, South Carolina WCBB Narratives

South Carolina women's head basketball coach Dawn Staley spoke with reporters about the differences between the narratives surrounding UConn star guard Paige Bueckers and her own team's success.

"Sometimes we create these narratives about great players -- Caitlin [Clark] was one of them; Paige is one of them right now -- and we tend to forget the narrative about what our kids have been able to do, going for their third in four years," Staley said.

"There's a sentimental narrative about Paige. A great freakin' player. Anybody would start their franchise with Paige because she's a winner. ... But when you put a narrative out there, everybody sees that, and it puts us at a disadvantage, whether you want to believe so or not. Officials see it. It's all over TikTok. It's all over 'SportsCenter.' It's all over all of that."

South Carolina was 37-0 last year before facing off against Clark and Iowa in the national title. The Gamecocks won 87-75.

Now the Gamecocks are facing another superstar in Bueckers as they go for their third national championship in four years. Meanwhile, UConn is looking for its first title since 2016, and Bueckers, who is entering the WNBA draft after the season, searches for the crown in her last chance to get it before leaving college.

The narrative surrounding South Carolina's greatness shouldn't be overlooked. Simply put, the Gamecocks have been incredible under Staley.

This year's team is looking for South Carolina's third national title in four years and fourth in the last eight seasons (not counting 2019-20, when the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Since 2019, the Gamecocks have gone 202-12, with just four losses in SEC play. They've made the Final Four five straight years, a feat that's only previously been accomplished by UConn and Notre Dame.

South Carolina is also looking to become the third Division I team in history to win four or more NCAA women's basketball titles. UConn is No. 1 with 11, and Tennessee is No. 2 with eight.

So there's a lot to praise about South Carolina's legacy, but the team also enjoyed great success this year, especially after losing star Kamilla Cardoso to the WNBA.

First-year forward Joyce Edwards has potentially emerged as the next great South Carolina superstar, and she excelled in the Final Four vs. Texas with 13 points, 11 assists and six rebounds.

MiLaysia Fulwiley (23 points in the Sweet Sixteen against Maryland), Chloe Kitts (double-doubles against Indiana in the second round and Maryland; 14 more points in the Elite Eight vs. Duke) and Te-Hina Paopao (14 points against Texas) have had their tournament moments as well, among others.

This is a well-balanced and well-rounded team, to the point where 10 players have averaged at least 11 minutes per game. South Carolina has outscored its opponents by 22.3 points per game as well.

Ultimately, narratives will hit the backburner when the two teams meet on the court Sunday, with tip-off in Tampa scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.