"Dawn Staley, she spoke to my mom a little bit while everything was going on as well. And I don't think a lot of people know that. She's been really amazing to me and my family through my entire basketball career,"Betts wroteMarch 19.
Betts, 6-foot-7 and one of the top players in the nation, transferred fromStanfordtoUCLAbut was recruited out of high school bythe Gamecocks(32-3), which is how their relationship began, Staley said March 22.
In 2024, Betts took time away from basketball and "checked (herself) into the UCLA hospital" she wrote, and when Staley heard about it, she reached out.
"Her number's still in my phone so I just reached out," Staley said. "I know when you're in a dark place ... you have to understand and combat whatever the evils of a dark place gives you, it overpowers you. So I think you have to overpower with the opposite end of the spectrum, just pour into positivity, pour into just her getting on the other side of it."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) drives around Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards (8) drives against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks center Madina Okot (11) looks to get around Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Agot Makeer (44) and Southern Jaguars guard Jestiny Dixon (14) battle for a rebound in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Southern Jaguars guard Mykayla Cunningham (8) and guard Zaria Hurston (20) get pumped up before their game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ta'niya Latson (00) reacts after getting hit in the face against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ta'niya Latson (00) shoots over Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards (8) looks to get around Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Southern Jaguars head coach Carlos Funchess disputes a call against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
1/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) drives around Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
1/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) drives around Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
2/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards (8) drives against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
3/10
Madina Okot, Atlanta Dream center in WNBA, former South Carolina star for Dawn Staley
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks center Madina Okot (11) looks to get around Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
4/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Agot Makeer (44) and Southern Jaguars guard Jestiny Dixon (14) battle for a rebound in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
5/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Southern Jaguars guard Mykayla Cunningham (8) and guard Zaria Hurston (20) get pumped up before their game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
6/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ta'niya Latson (00) reacts after getting hit in the face against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
7/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ta'niya Latson (00) shoots over Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
8/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Joyce Edwards (8) looks to get around Southern Jaguars guard Zaria Hurston (20) in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
9/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Southern Jaguars head coach Carlos Funchess disputes a call against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
10/10
South Carolina vs Southern in March Madness, Joyce Edwards, Dawn Staley see top photos
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
(Jeff Blake, Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
Betts went to Grandview High School in Colorado and was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2022. She played one season for the Cardinal and has spent the last three with the Bruins.
She's averaging 16.5 points for No. 1 seed UCLA and is likely a top-5 WNBA draft pick, including the No. 1 overall pick on some draft boards.
She's played against Staley twice in her career, once for each team.South Carolinabeat Stanford Betts' freshman year. But in 2024, Betts was a large reason why the Bruins beat the Gamecocks, scoring 11 points with 14 rebounds in the 77-62 win last season.
"I think sometimes we're in the middle of it and we can't see our way out of it. Sometimes it just takes positive forces to help that. I just wanted to be one of the people that reached out and hopefully help her get to the other side," Staley said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Staley said she wasn't expecting a response from Betts and was surprised when she got one.
"She responded, which was pretty cool I wasn't really expecting a response, but she responded," Staley said. "That was the extent of it is trying to help a young person find their way. Fortunately for us, she's able to tell her story. I know telling her story will help some other young people, some other people who are dealing with some dark places."
There's a potential that the two programs meet in theWomen's NCAA Tournamentbut it wouldn't be until the national championship game.
They both have second-round games on March 23. The No. 1 seed Gamecocks take onNo. 9 Southern Calat 8 p.m. ET (ESPN), the No. 1 seed Bruins play No. 8 Oklahoma State at 10 p.m. ET.
