Dawn Staley took a chance benching star freshman Milaysia Fulwiley, but it worked

There's a reason why Dawn Staley is one of the best coaches in women's college basketball.

Milaysia Fulwiley is a dynamic player who has made her impact felt from day one. However, being offensively sound doesn’t mean you’re immune to learning when you can improve. That’s why Dawn Staley benching Fulwiley earlier this season is now paying dividends for the South Carolina Gamecocks, just as Staley predicted.

Milaysia Fulwiley has been dropping buckets and breaking ankles since her collegiate debut. Her sick moves had an entire arena (and even celebrities) captivated. But being able to score at will isn’t enough for head coach Dawn Staley’s standards. Her players must also defend at a high level.

It’s why, despite being a starter, Fulwiley was benched in November during a game against UNC for a lack of attention to detail and subpar defense.

"If you play well, you get extended minutes, if you don't, that has to go to somebody else."

Dawn Staley on why Milaysia Fulwiley didn't see many minutes tonight:@wachfox @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/a3A5CkFYgd

— amanda (@amanda_1815) December 1, 2023

Dawn Staley talks MiLaysia Fulwiley's time on the bench at UNC to then having a more solid game at Duke. Says her experience sitting and watching "will pay dividends" later on.

Adds Te-Hina Paopao deserved to be in, but was fully on board with Fulwiley getting the experience. pic.twitter.com/qAvV4zgbu4

— Julia Westerman (@JuliaWesterman) December 5, 2023

Staley predicted in early December that Fulwiley’s benching would help her in the long run, and now, Fulwiley is admitting that it did.

Per Kari Anderson of The Messenger, Fulwiley was entirely on board with the benching after she had time to reflect:

“My defense wasn’t up to par so I sat out a game and I watched my team fight for a win and they won,” Fulwiley said. “At first I was confused because I was actually doing good in practice, but then, when she (Coach Staley) broke it down for me, I came to the realization like, ‘You’re right, I don’t do that as well on defense.'”

“If you have a big ego, you’re just not gonna work here. You’re just not going to fit in because everyone is just all in for each other,” she said.