The Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament is March 5-9, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville. The post-season has become a long and successful road for Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina Coach, and West Columbia Resident. She has won three National Championships, the last one in 2024, a year in which the Gamecocks went undefeated. 

The City of West Columbia is quite proud of its famous resident, who lives in Congaree Park, on the banks of the Congaree River. West Columbia City Councilman Joseph Dickey, and his family,  are neighbors of Staley’s, and he’s a big fan. 

“It’s a privilege to know Coach Staley and I’m glad to be her neighbor,” Dickey said. “Coach Staley is a great coach. And as the SEC Tournament and March Madness begin, I want her to know that me, Kiosha, Alexis, Joey and your whole WeCo family wish you and the team the best. Let’s bring the ‘ship back home and have a parade.”

In addition to Dickey’s support, West Columbia City Council has declared May 4th as Coach Dawn Staley Day in the City of West Columbia.  At a West Columbia City Council meeting in 2022, Staley received a standing ovation from everyone attending the meeting, as Mayor Pro-Tem Trevor Bedell presented a proclamation to Staley with the details of Dawn Staley Day.

Currently, the South Carolina women and Texas are tied for the top spot in the SEC. Both teams have 13-1 conference records. Both teams have two SEC games left to determine the SEC Champion. 

South Carolina’s last two games against Ole Miss on Thursday at 9 p.m. and No. 14 Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m. will be televised by ESPN. Texas faces unranked Mississippi State on Thursday and unranked Florida on Sunday. There are options to watch all of the college basketball action in West Columbia.

“There is a ‘boom’ in activity for college basketball, especially in March,” said Taylor Dively, a bartender at D’s Wings at 415 Meeting Street in West Columbia. “And we get a lot of traffic when Dawn Staley’s USC Women are playing.” Dively said to-go orders, for wings especially, increase during the basketball tournament season. 

Calloways Sports Bar and Grill at 2410 Augusta Road, in the Danwood Shopping Center, draws lots of sports fans. The venue has 11 television screens and there is almost always a sports event playing. 

Any time there is a big sporting event, like the SEC Tournament and March Madness, the fans pile in to watch the games.

Savage Craft Ale Works at 430 Center Street also has TV screens and fans love to come in to dine and watch the basketball games on TV,” said Manager Victoria Porter. 

Encore at 743 Meeting Street offers a cozier atmosphere. There are a couple of TVs at Encore and fans do come in to see the Gamecocks play when the games are being broadcast. 

West Columbia is the home of USC Women National Championship Coach Dawn Staley. She is supported by the city and there are lots of fans who are looking forward to supporting her team as it plays for another crown. Now is your chance to get out to a West Columbia business and support the Gamecocks.