Dawn Staley Olympics update: Team USA 3x3 basketball, dinner with Wanda Sykes
Since the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley has been involved in many different ways.
Staley walked with First Lady Jill Biden in the opening ceremony as part of the presidential delegation, and has since appeared on NBC during the U.S. men's basketball game, in addition to attending various sporting events.
On Tuesday, she shared snippets of her day in Paris on X beginning with breakfast at McDonalds before watching more women's basketball and having dinner with actress and comedian Wanda Sykes.
Staley sat in the stands to watch the U.S. women's basketball team's 3x3 game, which featured Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Hailey Van Lith and assistant coach Tammi Reiss. Reiss and Staley played together at Virginia and have remained close friends throughout their coaching career. Reiss is the coach of Rhode Island.
After the game, Staley posted a picture of the two with the caption "my @UVAWomensHoops partna in crime up in Paris doing our BIG ONE! ... Nothing but a whole lot of love for my sis."
My @UVAWomensHoops partna in crime up in Paris doing our BIG ONE! @TReiss32 in the MFn house!! Nothing but a whole lot of love for my sis! pic.twitter.com/6GFomdxG5H
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 30, 2024
Following the game, Staley posted that she had dinner with Sykes, her wife Alex and Staley's friend Angela O'Neal.
"When I tell you we had a time with @iamwandasykes and Alex Sykes and @hoopdreams08 at @USA3x3 and dinner," Staley wrote. "My life has been enriched because of great natured peeps like this crew! The laughs. The shared life stories. The absolute love for WBB. Thank you God!"
When I tell you we had a time with @iamwandasykes and Alex Sykes and @hoopdreams08 at @USA3x3 and dinner. My life has been enriched because of great natured peeps like this crew! The laughs. The shared life stories. The absolute love for WBB. Thank you God! pic.twitter.com/aCoOhkfbyR
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 30, 2024
This is the second time the two have met recently, as Staley and Sykes hung out in Philadelphia together in April at a 76ers game. Sykes also posted a video on Instagram congratulating Staley and the Gamecocks after the 2024 national title game.
On Monday, Team USA's women's basketball team had its first game in Paris, defeating Japan 102-76 and former South Carolina star A'ja Wilson led the way with 24 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Staley was not in attendance in the arena, according to an image posted by Staley of her watching the game on her iPad.
WILSON MAGIC: How many points did A'ja Wilson score? Ex-South Carolina star leads U.S. vs Japan in Olympic opener
The next game for Wilson and Team USA is on Thursday vs Belgium at 3 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock). Another former Gamecocks star, Laeticia Amihere who is playing for Canada, has her second game of the Olympics on Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dawn Staley at Olympics in Paris: 3x3 basketball, Wanda Sykes dinner
