University of South Carolina Women's Basketball Team

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

The bill ceremonial recognizes USC women's basketball achievements and invites the team and coach Dawn Staley to address the General Assembly in a joint session.

Referred to Committee on Operations and Management

Overview

Type: Concurrent Resolution

Jurisdiction: South Carolina

Sponsor(s): Includes a broad slate of co-sponsors from both chambers

Status: Introduced and referred to the Committee on Operations and Management (as of 2026-04-22); subsequently adopted and sent to Senate (same date)

Title/Subject: Invites the University of South Carolina (USC) Women’s Basketball Team to address the General Assembly in joint session

1) Main Purpose and Intent

The bill is a ceremonial concurrent resolution recognizing the USC Women’s Basketball Team (the Gamecocks) for their 2024 national championship and 2025-2026 season achievements, including an NCAA runner-up finish and a 36-4 record.

It invites the USC women’s basketball team and school officials to join the South Carolina General Assembly in a joint session.

It specifically invites Head Coach Dawn Staley to address the joint session.

A copy of the resolution is to be presented to Coach Dawn Staley and USC Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Formal Invitation: The General Assembly invites the USC women’s basketball team and school officials to attend a joint session in the House chamber.

Address by Coach: Dawn Staley, head coach, is invited to address the joint session.

Scheduling: The joint session date and time are to be determined by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.

Presentation: A copy of the resolution will be given to Coach Dawn Staley and Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati.

Nature: This is ceremonial recognition rather than substantive policy change or appropriation.

3) Who or What Is Affected

Primary beneficiaries/participants:

University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Team
USC Athletics Department (Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati)
Dawn Staley (Head Coach)
Members of the South Carolina General Assembly

Secondary impact:

The bill serves a symbolic acknowledgment of athletic achievement and may influence public honor and school pride.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduction and Action:

Introduced on 2026-04-22
Referred to the Committee on Operations and Management
On the same date, the House adopted the resolution and sent it to the Senate

Next Steps:

If the Senate concurs, the resolution would become a formal concurrent resolution recognizing the team.
Scheduling of the joint session will be arranged by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.

Notable elements:

This bill does not allocate funds or change laws; it is ceremonial in nature and focused on recognition and invitation.

Contextual Note

The resolution captures the notable achievements of USC’s women’s basketball program under Coach Dawn Staley, highlighting continued national prominence and the school’s athletic success. It aligns with common practice of legislative bodies issuing ceremonial honors to prominent state programs and figures.

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