Staley Watches Godson Collins in Clemson Game
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley attended American University's men's game at Clemson, where her godson Madden Collins scored 23 points in an 82-73 loss.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball
Dawn Staley, the South Carolina women's basketball coach, attended American University's men's basketball game at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum on Friday night. Sophomore guard Madden Collins, her godson, scored a team-high 23 points on 10-20 shooting as American lost 82-73.
Why it matters
Staley traveled from Columbia to cheer on Collins, who is averaging 21.5 points per game this season. The visit also draws attention to the upcoming South Carolina women's rivalry game at Clemson, which Staley will return to Littlejohn Coliseum for.
Madden Collins scored 23 points on 10-20 shooting, slightly above his season average of 21.5 points per game, as American fell 82-73 after trailing 39-34 at halftime. The stub does not provide further team-level statistics for the game.
The players
Dawn Staley
Dawn Staley is the head coach of South Carolina's women's basketball program and a three-time national champion coach who attended the game to support her godson.
Madden Collins
Madden Collins is a sophomore guard at American University and the godson of Dawn Staley, averaging 21.5 points per game this season.
The details
Staley sat in a regular seating section at Littlejohn Coliseum wearing a gray American University hoodie, according to the ACC Network Extra broadcast. She had practiced with South Carolina earlier Friday afternoon before making the trip to Clemson.
Timeline
Friday, Nov. 7, 2026: Staley attends American-Clemson game at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Monday, Nov. 3, 2026: South Carolina women's basketball opens its season with a win over Maryland in Paris.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2026: South Carolina plays No. 12 UNC in Charlotte.
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026: South Carolina plays rivalry game at Clemson at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
Season Trajectory
Staley's presence at a men's game ahead of her program's Nov. 12 rivalry matchup at Clemson, where South Carolina has won 15 straight and holds a 15-2 all-time record, places the visit within a long-running series. The atmosphere surrounding the upcoming game is shaped by that sustained dominance.
Fans planning to watch South Carolina's Nov. 12 game at Clemson can catch it at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The matchup extends a 15-game South Carolina win streak over Clemson.
The takeaway
Staley's willingness to travel across the state to support a former player's family underscores how personal connections extend beyond coaching responsibilities. Readers following the rivalry can track South Carolina's next meeting with Clemson on Nov. 12.
What happens next
South Carolina plays its rivalry game at Clemson on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, with Staley expected at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Further reading
For more college hoops coverage, see Basketball news and analysis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyrtleBeachOnline.
