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H 5566

Lady Gamecocks

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 119 co-sponsors

A ceremonial recognition of USC women’s basketball for a record-35-4 season, NCAA Final Four run, SEC title, and standout players, without policy or funding changes.

Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
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Bill Summary · H 5566

Summary: Bill H 5566 (South Carolina 2025-2026) – Lady Gamecocks

Note: This is a concurrent resolution recognizing achievements of the University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Team and related personnel. It is ceremonial in nature and does not create new law or allocate funds.

1. Purpose and Intent

  • The bill is a concurrent resolution by both chambers recognizing and honoring the University of South Carolina (USC) Gamecocks women’s basketball team, Head Coach Dawn Staley, her coaching staff, and university officials.
  • It acknowledges an outstanding 2025-2026 season and congratulates the team on:
    • A 36-4 overall record.
    • A second consecutive NCAA runner-up finish (national championship game appearances in back-to-back years).
    • A fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular-season title.

2. Key Provisions and Statements of Fact

  • Recognition of the team’s performance metrics and achievements during the 2025-2026 season, including:
    • 7 victories over top-10 opponents and a 7-3 record against top-10 teams; 3-3 against top-5 teams.
    • Notable win in the Final Four: defeat of undefeated UConn, 62-48, ending UConn’s 54-game winning streak.
    • Program record highlights: averages of 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.
    • Season field goal percentage of .500 (second-highest in program history) and free throw percentage of .730 (also among program bests).
    • Final season marks: 36 wins, 1.40 assist-to-turnover ratio (noting individual and team statistics).
  • Individual achievements highlighted:
    • Joyce Edwards: program single-season scoring record with 768 points; Honors includes academic recognition (CS College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team, 2026).
    • Raven Johnson: program record for 2.86 career assist-to-turnover ratio; four NCAA Final Four appearances (including two national championships).
    • Tessa Johnson: 90 made three-pointers in the season (third-most in program history) and a program record for made threes in career NCAA Tournament games (27).
  • Noted outcomes regarding players entering professional ranks:
    • Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, and Madina Okot selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft (Fever, Dream, Sparks respectively).
  • Acknowledgment of Head Coach Dawn Staley and coaching staff for leadership and program excellence, including the role of university officials.
  • The resolution explicitly builds pride and recognition for USC, the team, and the State of South Carolina.

3. Who/What Would Be Affected

  • The primary recipients of recognition:
    • University of South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team.
    • Head Coach Dawn Staley and the coaching staff.
    • USC university officials.
  • The resolution is ceremonial and symbolic; it does not alter policy, reallocate funds, or create regulatory requirements.

4. Procedural/Timeline Aspects

  • Action History:
    • Introduced and adopted on April 22, 2026.
    • Sent to Senate after concurrence (the bill moved through both chambers as a concurrent resolution).
  • Sponsor and Co-sponsors: Large roster of state legislators from both the House and Senate, indicating broad bipartisan ceremonial support.
  • Final Action: The resolution would be presented to Head Coach Dawn Staley as a formal commendation.

5. Practical Impact

  • Primarily serves to publicly honor and celebrate the team’s achievements.
  • May bolster state pride in USC athletics and highlight the program’s success to alumni, students, and fans.
  • No direct legislative or fiscal changes, incentives, or policy shifts are embedded in the text of the resolution.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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