In the recent NCAA Women’s Tournament selection, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley raised concerns regarding her team’s seeding, questioning the committee’s rationale given their strong performance and numerous victories against top competitors.

Despite being awarded a No. 1 seed for the fifth year straight, Staley felt her team deserved the overall top spot, which ultimately went to UCLA, marking a first for their program.

Conversely, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb expressed feelings of disrespect over her team being placed as the fourth overall seed, a ranking that took her by surprise.

Staley stated, “I am not in the selection room, but obviously I think we did much more than probably any other No. 1 overall seed… I’d like to get some feedback on how they came to that conclusion.”

Gottlieb echoed a similar sentiment: “I never thought I’d be a 1 seed and feel disrespected… Sometimes I don’t understand the people who make decisions in women’s basketball and why they do what they do.”