Dawn Staley Reacts After Joyce Edwards Dominates for Team USA in Gold Medal Win: ‘She Played Her Gamecock Butt Off!’

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — With the scoreboard glowing and gold medals draped around their necks, Team USA stood tall as the queens of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. And no one shone brighter in the final than Joyce Edwards — the South Carolina freshman sensation whose jaw-dropping performance earned thunderous praise from the one coach who knows her best: Dawn Staley.

“She played her Gamecock butt off!” Staley exclaimed, visibly beaming during a post-game interview that quickly went viral. “Joyce showed the world what we already knew — she’s built for these moments.”

Edwards, who just arrived in Columbia as part of South Carolina’s 2024 top-ranked recruiting class, didn’t look like a newcomer on the international stage. She dominated every facet of the gold medal showdown against Brazil, racking up 22 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, and endless hustle plays that helped Team USA pull away for an 82–65 win in Sunday night’s final.

And while Edwards was making headlines with her relentless two-way play, the rest of the Gamecocks’ AmeriCup squad wasn’t far behind. South Carolina had more than one representative wearing red, white, and blue — and they made sure their presence was felt. Te-Hina Paopao, fresh off being drafted by the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, was a steady backcourt force. MiLaysia Fulwiley brought her signature flair and creative playmaking. But it was Edwards who turned heads the most — and who, perhaps, offered the biggest glimpse into what’s to come this fall in Columbia.

“We’ve coached and developed some incredibly gifted players at South Carolina,” Staley continued. “But Joyce’s effort, her motor, her maturity — you just can’t teach that. She brought that same fire she shows in practice and unleashed it on an international stage.”

At just 18, Edwards now owns a gold medal and the respect of the basketball world. The forward’s ability to defend multiple positions, score from all over the floor, and run in transition made her an unstoppable force throughout the tournament. In pool play, she averaged 14.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game — and saved her best for the biggest moment.

“I just wanted to make Coach proud,” Edwards said, grinning, gold medal in hand. “She told me before the game, ‘Play like you’re wearing garnet and black.’ So I did.”

Edwards’ performance has catapulted her into national stardom even before she’s played a single collegiate game. But those who’ve followed her closely knew this was coming. A high school phenom from Camden, South Carolina, she committed to the Gamecocks early and never wavered. Her loyalty, coupled with her relentless work ethic, made her an instant fan favorite — and a coach’s dream.

“She’s a dog,” said Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve. “Joyce didn’t back down from anyone. She played like a veteran, not a teenager. That’s what makes her special — she listens, she executes, and she never quits.”

For Staley, Edwards’ performance was more than a proud coaching moment. It was a validation of the program culture South Carolina has cultivated — one where toughness, discipline, and excellence aren’t just buzzwords. They’re expectations. And Edwards, in Staley’s eyes, just passed her first test with flying colors.

“She represented our university the right way,” said Staley. “You could feel the pride back in Columbia. We had fans watching every game, cheering her on like it was March Madness. That’s what it means to be a Gamecock.”

Back home, the buzz surrounding Edwards’ AmeriCup heroics is palpable. Social media erupted after her double-double in the final, with fans, alumni, and even fellow athletes posting congratulations and hype videos. “JOYCE IS NEXT UP 🔥🔥,” tweeted former Gamecock star Aliyah Boston, now a WNBA All-Star with the Indiana Fever. “Coach got another beast in Columbia!”

It wasn’t just Gamecock Nation feeling the heat. Basketball analysts from ESPN to FIBA raved about Edwards’ upside. With her elite footwork, high IQ, and high-energy motor, she’s already being mentioned as a potential lottery pick in the 2027 WNBA Draft — and the NCAA season hasn’t even tipped off.

As the tournament came to a close and the gold medalists began heading home, Edwards reflected on what the experience meant to her. “This just made me hungrier,” she said. “I want more — more wins, more medals, more memories with my sisters in Columbia. This is just the beginning.”

Staley echoed that sentiment. “She’s only scratching the surface,” she said. “If Joyce keeps working like this, we’re going to do something special this season. Real special.”

South Carolina’s roster is already loaded with talent, from Fulwiley’s explosive play to Raven Johnson’s floor leadership and Sania Feagin’s frontcourt presence. Add a gold medalist with Edwards’ skillset and drive? That’s a nightmare for the rest of the SEC — and a dream for Coach Staley.

For now, though, Staley is simply enjoying the moment — a rare chance to sit back, smile, and celebrate one of her own.

“I don’t cry often,” she said with a laugh, “but watching Joyce out there, knowing where she comes from, knowing how hard she’s worked — I had to fight back a tear or two.”

If that’s the emotion after a summer tournament, just imagine the scene when Edwards makes her debut at Colonial Life Arena this fall. With 18,000 fans roaring and Coach Staley leading the charge, the next chapter of South Carolina women’s basketball is shaping up to be unforgettable.

Joyce Edwards played her Gamecock butt off — and it’s only July. Buckle up.