A Milestone for HBCU Women's Basketball
Dawn Staley, the celebrated head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team, has announced the creation of the Power Her Player Classic, a new tournament that will bring together some of the nation's most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities women's programs in November in Columbia, South Carolina.
The event will feature matchups against schools such as Alabama A&M, Tennessee State, and the host South Carolina Gamecocks, while also spotlighting the rapidly evolving Name, Image and Likeness marketplace that offers student‑athletes new avenues for compensation and brand partnerships.
Staley, who has long championed the visibility of HBCU programs, explained that the tournament is more than a showcase; it is a strategic effort to provide tangible opportunities for young women who aspire to compete at the highest level while navigating the modern collegiate compensation landscape.
In recent years, Staley has deliberately scheduled regular‑season games against HBCU opponents, including Coppin State, and has expressed admiration for coaches like Candace Dupree, now leading Tennessee State, and Olivia Gaines, recently appointed at North Carolina Central.
The tournament also arrives amid heightened attention on HBCU athletics, exemplified by South Carolina's early‑round clash with Southern University in the NCAA women's basketball tournament, a game that underscored the competitive parity and cultural significance of these programs.
Staley's vision reflects a broader push to secure greater respect and resources for HBCU women's basketball, a cause she has repeatedly highlighted in public statements and media interviews.