Raven Johnson plays point guard for the South Carolina Gamecocks, coached by Dawn Staley, one of the greatest point guards in history.
Staley emphasizes the importance of the position, holding them accountable for any miscommunications or errors on the court.
Staley’s players describe her coaching style as direct and insightful, drawing from her experience as a renowned player.
The players value Staley’s guidance and recognize her deep understanding of the game.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina women’s basketball junior Raven Johnson has one of the hardest jobs in March Madness. She plays point guard for one of the greatest point guards in history – her head coach, Dawn Staley.
“If anything goes wrong on the floor I blame the point guards,” Staley said. “Anything, any kind of misconnect, miscommunication. And they could not have been involved in the interaction.”
On Staley’s resume: Three-time Olympic gold medalist, seven-time WNBA All Star, two-time Naismith Trophy winner.
“It’s very hard, you have to be another version of Staley on the court,” Johnson said. “She has to trust you with the ball. Not even that – all these girls have to respect you, they got to listen to your voice.”
Alongside Johnson, guards Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall act as “connectors” on the floor, as Staley calls them. The trio has started in all of the Gamecocks’ 35 games this season and is slated to start in South Carolina’s Sweet 16 game against No. 4 Maryland on Friday.
Staley played point guard at the University of Virginia for four seasons, leading the Cavaliers through four NCAA Tournaments and three Final Four appearances.
“Her IQ for the game is phenomenal,” Johnson said. “Some things that she sees, I’m like, ‘Wow, Coach, I would have never thought of that.’ From freshman year to now, I’ve learned so much from her.”
Staley is the only player in ACC history, male or female, to log more than 2,000 points, 700 assists and 400 steals. She is one of three Virginia basketball players to have their jersey retired.
“She has helped me tremendously with my passing, especially to the post,” Hall said. “I’d say the first two years were the building blocks … We would do different drills, and she would ask me, ‘Did you see that? Did you see this? Did you see that?’”
Paopao, who is in her second and final season playing for South Carolina after transferring from Oregon, said Staley is as pinpoint with her guidance as she was with her passing.
“She’s direct,” Paopao said. “She’ll tell you on the spot, rather than waiting ‘til the storm is calm. She’ll tell you right then and there when you don’t want to hear it, but at the same time, you have to hear it.”
Staley was picked as the flag bearer for Team USA during the Opening Ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics. The same year, USA Basketball named her the Female Athlete of the Year – an honor she also had won a decade before.
“Any advice she gives, I always listen,” Paopao said, “because she’s very wise and obviously knows what she’s talking about.”
Olivia Noni is a student in the University of Georgia’s Sports Media Certificate program.