The spotlight simply refuses to fade on South Carolina women’s basketball. Even with WNBA playoffs still in session, two of the program’s most iconic names—Aliyah Boston and Dawn Staley—are making news for completely different reasons.
Aliyah Boston Balancing Two Offseason Roles
By the time the WNBA Finals wrap up in October, Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston won’t be taking any vacation time. The three-time WNBA All-Star, who has her team knotted in a semifinal series with A’ja Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces, already has two offseason jobs lined up.
- Unrivaled Basketball Return: Boston is back in the 3-on-3 league in Miami this winter, again repping Team Vinyl. Her team went all the way to the Unrivaled title game last year, proving her dominance even outside the traditional 5-on-5 format. Former Gamecock guard Allisha Gray will also compete in the league this offseason.
- NBC Sports Analyst Position: For the second year in a row, Boston will join the studio as an analyst for NBC Sports and Peacock’s Big Ten women’s basketball coverage. She earned critical acclaim in her debut season for her insightful analysis and on-set personality, giving fans a fresh voice and perspective on the collegiate game.
Boston has also been having a banner year on the court, averaging a career-best 15 points per game while adding 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 53.8% field goal shooting. Now, she stands just one victory shy of reaching her first WNBA Finals.
To South Carolina fans, Boston’s success is a continuation of the domination she showed in college, where she was a national champion, four-time Lisa Leslie Award winner, and the program’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles.
Dawn Staley on South Carolina’s Switch to Nike
Back in Columbia, meanwhile, Dawn Staley is gearing up for her next act with the Gamecocks. South Carolina athletics is making the switch from Under Armour to Nike after a 15-year partnership—something Staley believes will aid her team’s recruiting and national profile.
Staley praised Under Armour for its support, noting their presence on three national championships and signature campaigns like “You win some, you lose none.” But she admitted the swoosh’s popularity is hard to overcome.
“Most kids, no matter what type of packages they get, they’re attracted to Nike,” Staley said after South Carolina’s first official preseason practice.
Key Details of the Nike Deal
- A’ja Wilson Integration: The contract includes a special clause that ensures the program will be featured prominently in the branding and marketing of Wilson’s signature shoe line. Players will be sporting the A’One—and likely the A’Two by this time next year.
- Full Uniform Redesign: South Carolina will get new uniforms from Nike within the first four years of the deal, though Staley indicated it could be ready as soon as Year One.
- Personal Significance to Staley: A life-long Nike athlete with her own signature shoe in the 1990s, Staley has been waiting to return to the brand. “For me, personally, it’s a help. I can stop purchasing designer shoes because I’ve got a lot of Nike gear, a lot of Nike shoes,” she said with a smile.
Even A’ja Wilson admitted to being “bitter” she didn’t get to wear the swoosh throughout her own college career, calling the new deal “a long time coming.”
A Program That Never Sleeps
With Boston’s increasing stardom in the WNBA and Staley’s continued influence on the college game, South Carolina women’s basketball offseason news is being every bit as captivating as the action on the court. The Gamecocks are not only shaping today’s game but molding the future as well—whether through blockbuster signings, smart business moves, or the words of their legends.
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