Doug Feinberg/Associated Press

The Gamecocks' leader has been part of two national championships for Dawn Staley in 2022 and 2024. Now, she has helped the Gamecocks reach their sixth consecutive national semifinals — and seventh in nine years — by earning the Most Outstanding Player of the Sacramento 4 Regional.

The South Carolina coach said Sunday that in the past, she would emphasize getting a college degree when she spoke to potential transfers and recruits. Now, she says money comes up quickly in the conversation, even if it's not the first thing she wants to talk about.

A’ja Wilson stood atop the WNBA again, winning an unprecedented fourth MVP as her Las Vegas Aces earned a third championship in four seasons. For that, she earned The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the first time.

Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson has won the WNBA MVP for an unprecedented fourth time. Wilson won the award last season as the unanimous choice and also in 2020 and 2022.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina ran through last season undefeated on the way to the school's third national championship. With a lot of that squad back, there is good reason to think the Gamecocks could repeat.

South Carolina is starting the season where it finished off last year — ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 women's college basketball poll.

Caitlin Clark has been selected with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. The former Iowa star became a household name among basketball fans during her record-breaking college career. Now she will try and help revive the Indiana franchise along with last season’s No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston. Los Angeles took Cameron Brink second and Rickea Jackson fourth. Chicago drafted Kamilla Cardoso third and Angel Reese seventh.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina have cemented their place as the next dynasty in women’s basketball. With two NCAA titles in the past three seasons and 109 wins in the last 112 games, it’s hard to argue with that.

Tessa Johnson scored 15 points, Kamilla Cardoso added 12 and undefeated South Carolina advanced to the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 70-58 win over Oregon State.

Two-time Olympic gold-medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school on Friday confirmed her death. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.