Dawn Staley Issues Warning About Paige Bueckers: 'I'm Gonna Tread Lightly'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steph Dwilson | Last updated Apr 5, 2025 3:10 PM ET

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley just gave a warning about UConn player Paige Bueckers' viral popularity. The Huskies guard is a go-to favorite who often trends on social media platforms. But Staley shared that focusing on one player isn't always a good idea.

During a pregame press conference on April 5, a reporter asked Staley to comment on Bueckers' talent and what she will mean to women's basketball even if the Gamecocks win on Sunday.

"I'm gonna tread lightly with this," Staley said. "Here's the thing, sometimes we create these narratives about great players. Caitlin 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 in going for their third in four years. So there's a sentimental narrative about Paige."

And it's an understandable narrative, considering how great Bueckers is, Staley added.

"Great freakin' player," she said. "Anybody would start their franchise with Paige because of her efficient way of playing, because she's a winner, because she cerebrally just knows the game, just has an aura about her. And she'll be the number one pick in the WNBA draft. And she'll be an Olympian. She will be all those things, right?"

But when the media puts out a narrative that focuses so much on one player, it can put other talented players at a disadvantage, she said.

"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," Staley said. "Officials see it. It's all over TikTok.It's all over Sports Center. It's all over all of that. And she's a great player, but just because you're a great player doesn't mean you need to win a national championship to legitimize it. Paige is legit. She was legit from the moment she stepped on this stage or prior to, in Minnesota. Her career is legendary. She will leave a legacy at UConn whether she wins one or not. I just want to put it out there. I can't not address it."

The Gamecocks will face off against UConn on Sunday afternoon.

You can watch her full press conference in the video below.