South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley credits part of her team’s success to her practice squad. It’s a big reason why they receive rings with every championship the Gamecocks win. Male practice players have long been a thing in women’s college basketball and South Carolina is no exception.

Staley helped honor her practice squad, affectionately known as the “Highlighters,” again Tuesday with an NIL deal with Oofos. “They sacrifice so much, they work so hard,” Staley said. “They come in here, part of it is they love basketball. The other part of it is they know they’re helping us. “

Dawn Staley and South Carolina women's basketball face Florida in Columbia on Thursday. See our score prediction and scouting report for the SEC game.

The South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team's practice squad has received a thoughtful gift from head coach Dawn Staley.

South Carolina and UConn have played 13 times since Staley became the Gamecocks’ head coach in 2008. Staley said this year’s UConn is similar to Huskies teams of the past, but freshman Sarah Strong aids their offense. Strong, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2024, is second in scoring for the Huskies with 16.1 points per game.

South Carolina women's basketball has an elite practice squad known as 'The Highlighters,' and they recently received their own NIL deal.

UConn women's basketball heads to Columbia, S.C. to face South Carolina as Geno Auriemma expects his team to step up after a "productive" week of practice.

Score prediction, picks for South Carolina women's basketball's matchup with UConn, matching Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma