South Carolina H 5566: Ashely Teasdel, 2024 CWIT Woman of the Year

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5566 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 22, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5566

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH 
CAROLINA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, HEAD COACH DAWN STALEY, HER COACHING STAFF, 
AND UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON 
THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT NCAA RUNNER-UP FINISH AND FIFTH CONSECUTIVE SOUTHEASTERN 
CONFERENCE REGULAR-SEASON TITLE.

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina General Assembly are pleased to recognize the University of 
South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team for completing an exceptional 
2025-2026 season with an impressive 36-4 overall record; and

Whereas, the Gamecocks 
concluded the season as the NCAA runner-up for the second consecutive year, losing 
to an excellent UCLA team. The back-to-back runner-up finishes followed their 
2024 national championship, their third national title overall; and

Whereas, in addition, the 
team captured its fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) 
regular-season title, marking its sixth conference championship in the past 
seven years; and

Whereas, a talented 
group of well-coached players, the USC women's basketball team recorded seven 
victories against top ten opponents, including wins over Southern Cal, Texas, 
Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, LSU (twice), and UConn, finishing 7-3 against top ten 
teams and 3-3 against top five opponents; and

Whereas, one of the 
most notable victories of the season came in the Final Four, when the Gamecocks 
defeated the previously undefeated University of Connecticut, 62-48, ending the 
Huskies' 54-game winning streak and securing a place in the national championship 
game; and

Whereas, the 2025-2026 
season was exceptional as the Gamecocks finished the season with several 
program records, including 85.6 points per game, 46.0 paint points per game, 
21.4 points off turnovers per game, and 19.0 fast break points per game. 
Moreover, the team's season field goal percentage of .500 was the second 
highest in program history as was their .730 free throw percentage, 36 wins, 
and a 1.40 assist-to-turnover ratio; and 

Whereas, individually, 
sophomore Joyce Edwards set the program record with 768 points on the season, 
while senior point guard Raven Johnson set the program record with a 2.86 
career assist-to-turnover ratio, finishing her college career as a Gamecock who 
made five trips to the NCAA Final Four, including four championship game 
appearances, two of which yielded national titles (2022, 2024). Junior Tessa 
Johnson's 90 made 3-pointers are the third most in program history, and she 
holds the program record for made 3s in career NCAA Tournament games at 27; and 

Whereas, under the 
leadership of Head Coach Dawn Staley, the coaching staff has demonstrated 
exceptional dedication and expertise, fostering both athletic excellence and 
personal growth among student athletes. This year, Joyce Edwards, a student in 
the Honors College studying environmental science with GPA of over 3.7, earned 
a spot on the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second 
Team, while seniors Raven Johnson, Ta'Niya Latson, and Madina Okot were 
selected in the WNBA Draft 2026 by the Indiana Fever, the Atlanta Dream, and 
the Los Angeles Sparks respectively; and

Whereas, the achievements 
of the University of South Carolina women's basketball program have brought 
great pride and recognition to the University and to the State of South 
Carolina. Now, therefore, 

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives, the Senate concurring: 

That the members of the 
South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor the 
University of South Carolina women's basketball team, Head Coach Dawn Staley, 
her coaching staff, and university officials for an outstanding season and 
congratulate them on their second straight NCAA runner-up finish and fifth 
consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season title. 

Be it further resolved that 
a copy of this resolution be presented to Head Coach Dawn Staley.

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This web page was last updated on April 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM