South Carolina coach Dawn Staley says she owes Carolyn Peck a piece of her championship net

Dawn Staley cut down the net on Sunday night after South Carolina won the NCAA women’s basketball title, beating Mississippi State 67-55. But the entire net didn’t belong to her – she had to give a piece to Carolyn Peck, the only other black woman to coach a team to a national championship.

In her post game news conference, Staley explained that by giving Peck a piece of the rope, she was fulfilling a promise.

“Carolyn Peck, a few years ago, when she was commentating, she gave me a piece of her net,” Staley told reporters. “She told me to keep it. I’ve had it in my wallet for years.”

She continued: “She said, ‘When you win your national championship, just return it. I’m going to have to pass a piece of my net on to somebody else so they can share and hopefully accomplish something as big as thing. I do have to give a shout-out to Carolyn Peck, and I will return her net, thankfully.”

This was the first national title in program history for South Carolina.