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Celebrities, politicians, and fellow star athletes praised the South Carolina women's basketball team and head coach Dawn Staley after they won the national championship game.
On Sunday (April 7), the South Carolina Gamecocks finished off their perfect season by defeating star player Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in the final game of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.
The game was a rematch of last season's Final Four where the Hawkeyes beat the Gamecocks, giving them their only loss that year. During Sunday's game, Iowa was up early, but the Gamecocks came back to take home this season's championship, with seven South Carolina players scoring at least six points.
The win marks South Carolina's second national championship in three seasons, and Staley's third title overall. Staley is now the first Black coach to win three Division l basketball championships.
President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, LeBron James, and more applauded the Gamecocks' 38-0 season and Staley's history-making achievement.
"Congratulations to @GamecockWBB on closing out a perfect season with a NCAA Women's Basketball Championship win – your teamwork, focus, and tenacity was on full display all year. You've made your school and community proud," Biden wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"Congrats to @GamecockWBB and Coach @DawnStaley on a perfect season and their third title! It's been an incredible year for women's basketball, and this team was so disciplined and talented. Well deserved," Obama said on social media.
James specifically applauded Staley's coaching skills.
"Protect Dawn Staley AT ALL COST!! No if, ands or buts!" James said on X.
LSU star Angel Reese also had high praise for the head coach.
"I’m sooo happy for @dawnstaley !! As a black woman, I admire what you’ve done! You always checked on me & always loved me like your own!" Reese tweeted.
See more reactions below.
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