Chloe Kitts has pulled back the curtain on one of the most defining moments of South Carolina’s season, revealing the profound reasoning behind Dawn Staley’s decision to put the ball in her hands during the critical final possession of Sunday’s showdown against Duke. In a postgame interview that has since gone viral, Kitts shared the emotional and tactical layers of that pivotal play, offering a rare glimpse into the trust, mentorship, and psychological mastery that define Staley’s coaching philosophy.
With just seconds left on the clock and the Gamecocks clinging to a narrow lead, Staley called a timeout and drew up a play that surprised many—targeting Kitts, a sophomore forward who had been battling inconsistency, rather than leaning on All-American guard Te-Hina Paopao or veteran center Kamilla Cardoso. The play unfolded perfectly: Kitts received the inbound pass, absorbed contact, and sank two clutch free throws to ice the game. But it wasn’t just a strategic move—it was a statement.
“Coach Staley looked me dead in the eyes and said, ‘This is your moment. I didn’t bring you here to hide; I brought you here to shine,’” Kitts recounted, her voice cracking with emotion. “She told me, ‘You’ve put in the work when nobody was watching. Now go show them what I see every day.’” That level of belief, Kitts admitted, was transformative. “It’s not just about basketball with her. It’s about making you believe you’re capable of things even you didn’t know were inside you.”
The revelation underscores Staley’s unparalleled ability to elevate players beyond their perceived limits. While other coaches might have defaulted to a senior in crunch time, Staley saw an opportunity to forge resilience in a young player still carving out her identity. It’s a microcosm of why South Carolina has remained a powerhouse under her leadership—not just because of X’s and O’s, but because of the culture of empowerment she cultivates.
Kitts’ journey makes the moment even more poignant. A former five-star recruit, she struggled early in her freshman year with confidence and adapting to Staley’s system. There were games where she looked lost, and whispers swirled about whether she’d ever live up to her potential. But Staley never wavered. “She’d tell me, ‘Chloe, you’re supposed to be here. Now act like it,’” Kitts shared. “Some days I hated hearing that because it meant she wouldn’t let me off the hook. But now? I get it.”
The Duke game wasn’t just a turning point for Kitts—it was a testament to Staley’s coaching genius. By entrusting her in that high-leverage situation, Staley didn’t just secure a win; she unlocked a new level of self-assurance in Kitts that teammates say has been evident in practices since. “You can see it in her eyes now,” said senior guard Bree Hall. “She walks like she knows she belongs. And that’s what Dawn does—she doesn’t just build players; she builds legacies.”
Analysts have pointed to the tactical brilliance of the play itself—a misdirection action that forced Duke to switch, leaving Kitts matched up against a smaller guard—but the psychological warfare Staley waged was even sharper. “She knew their scouting report would key in on Paopao or Cardoso,” explained ESPN’s Debbie Antonelli. “But Dawn thrives on making opponents respect every player on her roster. That’s how you win championships.”
The ripple effects of that trust extend beyond Kitts. Younger players on the roster have taken note, recognizing that Staley’s system rewards preparation over pedigree. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman or a senior,” said freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley. “If you put in the work, she’ll put the ball in your hands when it matters. That’s why everybody fights for her.”
Staley’s influence isn’t confined to the court. Kitts revealed that the coach often shares personal stories of her own struggles—from being underestimated as a player to fighting for respect as a Black female coach—to remind her team that adversity is fuel. “She’ll say, ‘They didn’t believe in me either. Now look where I’m standing,’” Kitts said. “How do you not run through a wall for someone like that?”
The Duke game may go down as just another regular-season win in the record books, but for those inside the program, it’s a landmark moment. Kitts’ admission lays bare the heartbeat of South Carolina’s dominance: a coach who sees her players’ greatness before they do and stops at nothing to pull it out of them. As the Gamecocks chase another title, one thing is clear—Dawn Staley’s greatest plays aren’t drawn up on whiteboards. They’re etched into the confidence of players like Chloe Kitts, who now know, without a doubt, that they were built for this.
