NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: REGIONAL FINAL - CREIGHTON VS SOUTH CAROLINA

March 27, 2022

Dawn Staley

Destanni Henderson

Aliyah Boston

Victaria Saxton

Brea Beal

Greensboro Coliseum

South Carolina Gamecocks

Elite 8 Postgame Media Conference

South Carolina 80 - Creighton 50

MODERATOR: Congratulations. Joined on the dais by Destanni Henderson, Aliyah Boston, Victaria Saxton and Brea Beal.

Q. If you could each take this. It seemed like there was more of a concerted effort to really drive the ball and play early on and knock them back on their heels. Was that the game plan coming in?

DESTANNI HENDERSON: I don't think it was really our main focus, but just to do what's working. So I felt like it was really important for the people who wasn't getting pressured to definitely drive, because you have so much space. So just to execute and just see what's in front of you.

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah, I think people attacking the rim was just solely reading defense, and they did what they needed to do to score.

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just think everybody was looking at the defense and seeing what was going on. Like Henny said, those that are getting pressured, they're just going out there and attacking, and that helped, and that's what they did.

BREA BEAL: Yeah, I definitely think this game we definitely made adjustments as far as me and Lele, they're sagging on us. What else could we do, which was drive to the basket, drive and kick. So I think as a team we did make some great adjustments.

Q. This is obviously a goal that you guys set from the end of last season to get back to this point. How do you feel now that you've accomplished it knowing there's still a little bit left?

ALIYAH BOSTON: It's exciting, but we just said in the locker room we still have unfinished business and we still have two more games to play.

VICTARIA SAXTON: I agree. I just think that we gotta know we have unfinished business and go out there and do what we have to do to handle it.

BREA BEAL: I think again, what they said, just continue to stay level headed. And again we have two more games. So keep doing us.

DESTANNI HENDERSON: And agree with all three of them. (Laughs). Yeah, just know that we still have unfinished business, to take in the moment right now and be happy for how far we've came. But we're not done at the end of the day just not get too high with the high and too low with the lows.

Q. Aliyah, who was it -- I guess it was Coach Chmiel maybe who jumped in your arms and hugged you on the court, and you were actually holding him up.

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah. (Laughs).

Q. Was it also last year him that held you when you were as emotional as you were with the last shot? Do you remember, against Stanford? I think he hugged you on the court?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah. He did.

Q. I was just curious. Some players take motivation differently than others. How much did you sort of think about replaying all those final seconds in your head all year as a motivation to get back to this point or did you at all?

ALIYAH BOSTON: Yeah. No, I didn't replay any of that. I think part of growing up and maturing is being able to move on. So that happened last season, but that's not something that I can continue to think about or else there wouldn't be any progress. So I've let go of that since last season and we've moved on.

Q. Guys, going back to obviously even last season, the workouts and the winter and being able to get to this point, I'm sure it's extremely draining and you probably get sick and tired of talking with us after these games. Getting back to this point, though, how sweet is it to be able to get that victory and see the confetti come down and know this is one piece of the puzzle to be able to get back to that ultimate goal to hopefully get to a National Championship?

BREA BEAL: I think it's just amazing to see like all the work we've put together. We had a few young pieces come in and just seeing them be able to come in and gel with us, be great at what they're best at. It's a cool thing to sit back and watch.

VICTARIA SAXTON: It's exciting just to be able to get back here. And it's exciting to see everybody come in and just take their role upon them and just play as best they can, and I think everybody is coming in and doing that.

DESTANNI HENDERSON: It's been a long season of workouts and stuff. We've worked hard. We're very excited about it and can't wait to see what's next.

STUDENT-ATHLETE: I feel like it's well deserved. Everybody has stepped up to the plate. We're all happy for each other and just living in this moment and just being present and just being happy for one another.

It's just a blessing. And we've came so far. So we're not done yet. And that's just what it is.

Q. Ladies, congratulations. Just wondering if you guys have any winter coats, if you're going to have to go to the store this week. They are calling for a little bit of snow. Just wondering?

ALIYAH BOSTON: I think it's all shorts and tank top weather. That's what we're packing. Right?

BREA BEAL: I'll have my coat on me. Yeah.

MODERATOR: Sounds like you got a very straight answer. So let's go ahead and take our next question.

Q. Congratulations to all of you for what you've achieved. This is for anyone who has an opinion. And it may be that none of you do. But your coach, of course, signed a very impressive contract this fall, the seven-year deal, for 22 million. I believe she said she hoped it would be a benchmark for investment in the game. You guys are not ADs, I understand, but you're young women, and I'm wondering if that said anything to you about what women should expect in the workplace and maybe should demand if it's not offered.

ALIYAH BOSTON: Well, Coach Staley, what a queen, first of all, and she's done so much for the game of basketball. So everything that she's getting she deserves, and she deserves more. Sorry. She really deserves everything that she has coming for her, and I'm just really proud of her, and go get that check, honey!

DESTANNI HENDERSON: Just to piggyback off of her, I feel like she's done put in the work over the years. So many times, and I feel like when you do that, you can demand things and make it happen. I feel like she's in that position to do those things because she's helped so many people and just brought in and created a family for the University of South Carolina as a whole.

And other people around the world who watch her or just watch the game of basketball, I feel like she's done an amazing job from the coaching standpoint and just outside of basketball.

Q. Aliyah, I know winning is the only thing that matters, your personal accolades come second. But I gotta ask, is it bittersweet to see the double-double streak come to an end? Or were you just too focused on winning and celebrating?

ALIYAH BOSTON. We're on to the Final Four. So as the streak ends, it's all right. But we're still playing. So that's all that matters.

Q. With all four of you in double figures, that doesn't happen all the time. What do you think that says about kind of the cohesion of this team and how balanced you are across the board?

BREA BEAL: I mean, it just shows like how well we gel together because we've been playing with each other for a while now. But it just shows like us going out there not thinking, just playing freely, just playing off each other, playing with each other. It's just amazing.

VICTARIA SAXTON: I just go back to our roles. I just feel like everybody, we're out there playing our role and we're doing what we have to do. And like she said, we gel. So I feel like that plays a big part.

ALIYAH BOSTON: And I think it also shows that everybody is ready to step up at any time. Everybody did a great job scoring, Brea especially when she was attacking the basket. It's like you can't really stop that.

DESTANNI HENDERSON: Yeah, I feel like all of us just being on the same page and just having one goal and keeping the main thing the main thing has just made everything a lot more simple for us when everybody is on the same page.

So I feel like that's what's been happening with us, and we just gotta stay focused.

Q. I know in last year's run, y'all were thinking about how Ty and Kiki were robbed of the opportunity a couple of years ago. Is that still in your minds during this run?

DESTANNI HENDERSON: That's not really something I'm thinking about, because I mean, we all got robbed. (Laughs). But we are fortunate to be in this position and make it happen for ourselves, and also for them, because they deserve the opportunity as well. So it's just something that's in the back of our heads, but it's not something that we're trying to get down over ourselves.

ALIYAH BOSTON: I agree with that. I think it's definitely in the back of our minds, and we know that Ty and Kiki are definitely supporting us through our run right now.

STUDENT-ATHLETE: I also agree that it is something in the back of our minds, but we have something else in front of us right now that we have to worry about.

BREA BEAL: Yeah, definitely to keep the ball rolling, we gotta stay in the present and worry about what's going on right now and what's going on the next day. Yeah, sometimes it crossed my mind, I'm not going to lie.

Q. I wanted to ask at the end there everybody celebrating with the band, everybody coming over and dancing with the band. What was that moment like and being able to celebrate this with so many fans, it seems like everybody took the time to really save or that moment.

VICTARIA SAXTON: It's amazing to just be able to see all of our fans here. Our band, I love our band. They come and bring so much joy to us. They love us. It's just exciting to be able to enjoy this moment with everyone.

ALIYAH BOSTON: I agree with that. I think it was just a fun moment, and it's also just adding onto just celebrating each other because we're on to the Final Four. So just being able to listen to music and show off our dance moves was pretty fun.

DESTANNI HENDERSON: I agree. I feel like the energy is really amazing. I feel like that moment is something we can always look back on and just adding on to the memories.

BREA BEAL: Yeah. I just think it shows the connection within our community. Like we really love one another, and they love us. We love them. We love the energy they bring. They get us going. They keep us going. So, yeah, it's amazing.

Q. Destanni and Victaria, obviously with this being your guys' last time around, I'm just curious if you guys have already maybe felt a little different sense of the mindset heading into this year's Final Four as opposed to last year, and if so, would you mind kind of expounding a little on what you're feeling mentally at this point?

DESTANNI HENDERSON: I feel like last year it was our first time, and this year I feel like we know what it feels like now. So I just feel like just adding on to the leadership and just being leaders on the court and just making sure everybody else is on the same page.

So I just feel like that's just really what it is is just a growth, and I feel like we both display that on the court.

VICTARIA SAXTON: I will also say taking in the leadership and being able to lead going into the Final Four considering we've been there before. Even some of the other girls that's been there before, they can lead from their standpoint. I just really think that we just need to make sure everybody knows what to expect and things like that.

COACH STALEY: I just want to say that being here in Greensboro and all the people, you walk in the arena, at the hotel, really made us feel special. And I know I'm one that really looks at, you know, and I feel when people are genuinely just happy and inviting and host our tournament.

And we felt that every time we walked in the door, it was always a greeting. It was always, you know, how you doing. And that makes me feel really good, because it gives our players like an incredible like student-athlete experience. It's not all about basketball. It's a big part of it. But when you walk into an arena and you feel the love for everyone that's working here, the yellow coats and everyone, the people at the hotel, the proximity, were just incredible, just over the top.

And then I'd like to just kind of think Creighton. I mean, congratulate them on a tremendous year. Nobody probably had them in their bracket being in the Elite Eight first time in their program history. And it is really something to be proud of.

I mean, we had a lot of firsts a few years ago, and I hope they hold on to it and come back stronger and move further in the tournament because it only strengthens our game and it helps our game. So congratulations to them.

And I just want to say to our local media who have been just examples of treating our program like a real sport, for years, like years. This isn't like, you know, it just happened. You cover us. You wear your heart in your writings. You wear it when you're in front of the public on our local news. And you wear it. You know, we win, you feel it. We lose, you feel it. And we can feel that in how you cover our team. We really appreciate it for treating us that way because every program doesn't get what we get, and I value what you do for us. So thank you.

Q. Dawn, thank you for that. This has been a goal all year, and now that you're here, how do you strike the balance between celebrating a hard-won regional title but also realizing you got business to take care of in Minneapolis?

COACH STALEY: Yeah, we got a couple of days to do it. Our players celebrated. They'll probably celebrate again. I hope they go to class tomorrow. And then, you know, we got a quick turnaround, because I think we leave on Tuesday.

So I think we're going to enjoy it. We don't play until Friday. We'll watch who our opponent would be tomorrow. It feels good to be the first one to go in and kind of watch everybody else sweat it out. But we're going to enjoy it. You got some young players who have no clue what it means to go to a Final Four.

So we'll probably have to -- you know, we'll probably have to hold them back a little bit because they just don't know the whole excitement of it. And then you have some older players who have been here before, and they have one thing on their mind and that is to win a national championship. And we do it game by game. It was pressure-packed the entire season, and it's a relief to know that we're back and now we can settle in and try to get this thing done.

Q. Dawn, thank you again. I wanted to ask, the junior group that you say call themselves the freshmen still, I wanted to ask about seeing them advance to their second straight Final Four, what is it in their mindset that you see that maybe has changed between last year and this year just in terms of maturity and leadership knowing what to expect at this level?

COACH STALEY: I feel that that particular group has learned how to just embrace the margin of error each and every day, and they practice like it. They play like it, you know, even through our losses. They really understood it.

And I think just having the experience of what we had to go through in the Final Four last year, it's helped guide them. But it didn't control them. Like they were unafraid to make plays or do things out there on the floor. So they're just a year older, with a year more understanding of how to navigate through it and not get too high with the highs or low with the lows.

Q. Dawn, I was going to ask about Aliyah, just when you talked about pressure-packed, all year, from the minute she started playing the first game this year, everybody looked at her as All-American. She seems pretty much like she's had the right mindset all year. How important has that been both for her and this team?

COACH STALEY: I think it's truly important. I think when you've had to play under the gun like Aliyah has all season long, she's mature enough to handle it. She's grounded. She knows who she is, and she never gets out in front of anything. She just takes the day as it comes. She takes her play as it comes.

And that's just a real good sign of just maturing and knowing who you are, knowing your worth and knowing that she's probably the Player of the Year. It's hard to play under that gun. And I think it also helps that other people have brought up some other candidates for National Player of the Year. Makes her work a little harder and focus in a little bit more because that's one of the things that she wanted to accomplish.

Q. Dawn, from the Kentucky loss three weeks ago to this moment tonight, what have you learned about your team?

COACH STALEY: Well, I've never lost track of who we were. I mean, we've always been a really good basketball team. Through the two losses that we've had, and you have a tendency to lose focus on who you are when you lose a basketball game. And did we enjoy it? No. We didn't enjoy losing three weeks ago.

But it helped us focus, and we just went back to that margin of error. We didn't -- we let it get out of hand in the SEC tournament championship, and Kentucky made us pay for it. But then we had time to regroup, and then find our way to winning four games to get back to the Final Four. And, you know, I think now we're in a good place to understand. There's no other position in the season that we have to be super focused on those things.

Q. Dawn, as a followup to what you were talking about with the pressure of getting here, now there's going to be even more pressure to perform in the Final Four, just knowing how badly your players want to win a championship. How do you kind of balance knowing that with trying to keep them loose and not letting that pressure overwhelm them?

COACH STALEY: I mean, we've created habits all season long. And the habits that we've had I don't think we'll stray too far from it. We got a core group of players who just want to win, so I think they have a really good pulse on our team.

And they're able to calm things down when needed, and they're also enjoy the moment just like young people. It's what we came to do. This year has been one in which we had a target out there, not a target on our back, we had a target out there to win a national championship. And we put ourselves in this position, and I think win, lose or draw, it won't be from not trying as hard as they can.

Q. Coach, knowing the type of player you were coming out of college and seeing that you almost kind of transferred that same energy to your players, do you hope that your players will transfer that same energy to girls who look up to them and also women who look like you who hope to coach like you? What message do you have to players and women who want to do what you and your girls do?

COACH STALEY: I mean, I want our players to be who they are. And I hope that I set an example of sharing, you know, sharing my experiences, my love for the game, my love for the people in the game.

And I just -- and I think they do that. But when we hosted the first and second round of the NCAA tournament the First Four, you don't really realize your impact until you hear other people say things. Like, you know, I think it was the incarnate word, some of their players, really thought it was a big deal to be playing on the court that South Carolina plays on. They thought it was a big deal to just kind of be around the place that I coach.

And when young people do it, like you hear some older people here and there, but when young people who are our competitors say those things, and they're unafraid to say it, like that's what those young ladies felt. And they laid it on the line, even though we're in a competitive battle. That says a whole lot. That makes me feel truly special, and it helps me understand our worth.

You know, our game is being watched by young people, young women, and is being admired by the people that's in it. And I just hope that our players really understand their impact on our game, and hope they give it back. And they do. They do. Without a doubt, they give it back to our fans. They give it back to anybody. They were just so gracious to take pictures with everybody in the arena, no matter if we're going to get back at 3 or 4:00 in the morning. I mean, that's what it's about is paying it forward.

Q. I know we saw some of your coaches maybe struggle being able to cut the net down. They've been able to do this a couple of times, but the point being you guys is you have been able to get here so many times, but yet this is the first time in program history that you guys have been able to reach the Final Four in back-to-back seasons. I know it might not seem like the biggest thing right now, knowing how far this program has come to be able to continue to achieve firsts, even though you've been able to achieve so much over the last couple years. How special is it knowing how far this program has come?

COACH STALEY: It's huge. It's huge. And A'ja Wilson has never been able to do back-to-back Final Fours. So she's gotta give credit to this team.

But, I mean, it's great. I'm just super happy for -- you know, I'm super happy for all of our team, but truly super happy for our juniors who experienced three years ago where we had a pretty darn good team that could have gone far in the tournament and it was just abruptly stopped. And then you're just left holding the bag, like that's it, you know.

And then they come back and get us to the Final Four and lose in a heartbreaking way. And then it's hard to give back. Like our game is so good that, I mean, I was nervous all day today, just, I mean, it was a long day, on a Sunday, nervous, because of who our competition was and just anxious to play, anxious to give back, just so our players can really experience being in the Final Four, our young players. Just understanding how hard it is and also to have them celebrate something as monumental as this is getting back there back to back.

Q. Dawn, your ladies' ability to accept that target on their back and go out and perform the way they've performed through 34 games so far this year, how much would you say is that a reflection on your personality and your, I guess, embracing of the target on your back that maybe you potentially had while you were a player and now a coach?

COACH STALEY: I mean, here it is. I mean, we're going to face whatever music that's playing. We -- I guess I have trust in our players. Like I know them. I know them well. Actually, I know the core of them pretty well.

So I think with that group you just have to look at them, look them in the eye and see where they are, if they're focused, and probably 95 percent of the time -- probably 100 percent of the time they've been focused all season long.

It's probably the younger ones that have, you know, they don't know. They don't play a whole lot, so they got a whole lot going on in their lives, and they really don't understand how to do it every single day, like to be on. I mean, it's really hard to be on every single day.

But we work towards that. It's the very thing that the core group of our team, they came here because of that. They watched us go to Final Fours and win national championships, and they wanted to be in the hot seat like that.

So I think it's a product of our culture. It's a product of our coaching staff and our, you know, our program, all the people in our program. They make this thing work, like every single person, from our DOBO to our director of play, they -- we're working. Like we only show them great examples of working. So wherever that target is, we just perform under the work that we put in.

Q. With the offensive performance you all had tonight, was there any particular adjustment you attribute that to? And what does it mean moving ahead to have had a night where you shot 50 percent from the field?

COACH STALEY: I mean, probably the biggest adjustment we made was on the defensive side of the ball. We just really concentrated on whoever had the ball, that we were going to all-out pressure them and make them put the ball on the floor.

Like I don't think you can allow Creighton -- they did a really good job with us doing that 17 assists on 21 baskets. They averaged 20. They average 30 threes. They averaged 10 makes. So we had to figure out how to take away something, one of the big things that they do to teams.

And then for us from an offensive standpoint, we knew they were going to crowd Aliyah, which would have made it single coverage with our other big. And once they had single coverage, we wanted them to go. And then as the game was going on, they were doubling Aliyah before she had the ball, when she got the ball.

And then it created scoring opportunities for Brea Beal and Lele and some of our other guards, and Henny. Once we have single coverage and we know that they're not going to rotate over because they're going to lean heavy on keeping two people on Aliyah, it made it a lot easier for us to make decisions and make baskets.

Q. Dawn, there's been so many great post players over the years, and I know Aliyah said that she doesn't care that the streak is over, but for you, what's it been like to watch her on this double-double streak as she has shattered the program record, she shattered Sylvia Fowles' record? What's it been like to watch as her coach?

COACH STALEY: I mean, this is what she's supposed to do. Seriously, like that's what she's supposed to do. I mean, I think she's a great talent.

I think it goes to show how relentless she is. She's really a relentless player, relentless rebounder. But when it's all said and done, Aliyah just wants to win, so she's going to do the things to win basketball games, and it's fortunate for us she did it in a double-double fashion.

Q. Going off the question that someone asked before about the celebration with the band, I noticed before the game you were giving fist pumps to everyone in the game day offs row, and then yesterday during the Iowa State-Creighton game you were saying hi to fans who wanted your attention when you could have been scouting. I was wondering where that attentiveness and commitment to finding time for people comes from.

COACH STALEY: I mean, it comes from coaching in Columbia, South Carolina, for 14 years. We give our fans access to us, and in return we lead the nation in attendance for, I don't know, eight years now, seven, eight years.

I mean, it's people -- I'm really conscious of people spending their money, budgeting to come to Greensboro. Some people already had their plane tickets to Minnesota, and they would tell us throughout the year, and it's like, I mean, let's take it one game at a time.

But I'm just happy that they choose our program to spend their money, to bring their families. And it takes a second to take a picture. A second to take a picture. And a second to give them just a memory, an experience. And one of our fans told me his grandmother told him, when you treat people good, they treat you better. And that's what the fans have done in Columbia, South Carolina, in supporting us.

MODERATOR: Two last questions.

Q. Given that there were fewer concerns this year about the tournament with gender equity issues, what do you think is the next move for the NCAA to make?

COACH STALEY: Someone asked that question. It's units. It's being able to get, you know, similar. I mean, I guess equity. Like CBS, TBS, TNT, TRU TV. Right? That's the men's tournament. So when we're able to market ourselves in that way, that's a lot of dollar signs, when you're able to be in all of those networks.

And I'm not saying anything against ESPN, which they do a great job at putting our game forward, but let's make it competitive. Let somebody bid out our tournament and maybe we'll have a few more networks to show our games, and then maybe, just maybe -- and I'm just going to throw this out there -- we're playing at 7 and 9 on a Sunday night. I wonder why. Well, maybe because the men played at 2 and 5.

And I know we're good. I think the men, whether they played at 7 and 9 tonight, would have had a packed house. Doesn't matter. If we played a little bit earlier, maybe we had some more people in the stands. And they did a great job at filling this arena up.

But it's just little things like that that make a huge difference. And I'm not trying to start any controversy, but units, you know. Our game can be a game in which is valuable, like in term of dollars and cents. And once we're able to get there, we'll find our true value.

Q. Coach, you've been here, been to the Final Four before. You're very open about this isn't the final decision. But as you're putting that confetti into your hoodie, as you're savoring those moments, what's going through your mind, and why is it important to really feel that confetti?

COACH STALEY: I mean, it's important because, you know, we are dream merchants for young people. The young people on our team, they want to win. They want to win. They want to go to Final Fours. They want to win national championships. They want to win SEC tournament championships, SEC regular champions. They want to win the Bad Boy Mowers championship in the Bahamas. They want to do all of that.

And we are creating lifelong memories. And I think confetti is just a tangible thing as reminders of what you've accomplished. And I've been a confetti collector for every like championship that we've had. And it is just a constant reminder of going to get it, you know, going to get it, creating these great experiences for our players and our coaches and everybody in our program, because we work really hard.

And it's really hard to get to a Final Four, really hard. So I'm just happy that we're able to do it, and I'm going to keep collecting it.

MODERATOR: Congratulations again and best of luck.

COACH STALEY: Thank you.