Oct. 11, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley announced Tuesday night via Facebook Live that her team will play its 2016-17 season under the theme “100.” In her ninth season leading the Gamecocks, the three-time SEC Coach of the Year annually develops a theme for both her team and its fans to rally around for the season.

This season’s theme plays off the meaning of being “100” overall in terms of commitment to the team and realizing its goals, but Staley also breaks down the number into its individual components, which each represents an evolving principle of the team and season. The 1 reflects one goal, one dream, one team, one family and one focus. The first 0 stands for no boundaries, no complaints and no lipservice. The second 0 represents zero excuses, zero selfishness and zero tolerance.

“The theme represents who we want to be and how we want to approach all the things that pertain to being successful,” Staley said. “Our theme includes our fans, who give 100 percent of their support at home and on the road. It also references our ‘one’ theme from a few seasons ago, during which had success. This season, we’re looking for that times 100. If we can embody who were were at ‘one’ and rally around ‘100’ like we did, we can see heightened success.”

The Gamecocks, who have led the nation in attendance each of the last two seasons, enter the 2016-17 campaign as the three-time reigning SEC regular-season champions, including last season’s perfect 16-0 league record. South Carolina is one of three teams returning multiple All-Americans this season in senior center Alaina Coates and junior forward A’ja Wilson. Junior guard Bianca Cuevas-Moore is back to lead the Gamecocks, who also welcome junior transfers Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray to the fold after sitting out last season. Both were First-Team All-ACC selections in 2015 and amassed 1,000 career points in just two seasons at their previous schools. South Carolina added five newcomers to the roster with the four freshmen ready to take the court this season, led by FIBA U18 Americas Championship gold medalist Tyasha Harris.

Season tickets are available now via the website, GamecocksOnline.com/tickets, or by calling the South Carolina Ticket Office at 1-800-4SC-FANS (472-3267). Prices start at $30 for general admission seating.