COLUMBIA — Coach Dawn Staley often finds ways to celebrate and amplify the work that her practice players do.
Known as the Highlighters, South Carolina women’s basketball‘s group of male practice players has been given national championship rings and involved in most things that the Gamecocks (21-1, 9-0 SEC) do.
On Tuesday, it was announced via a video posted to social media that the Highlighters were given an NIL deal with Oofos sandals. Oofos is a brand that Staley has been working with since 2022.
“They sacrifice so much and they work so hard,” Staley said of her practice squad on Wednesday. “Part of it is they love basketball, the other part of it is they know they’re helping us,” Staley said. “I try to come up with innovative gifts.”
South Carolina is an Under Armour school and Staley said that when coming up with a way to reward the group, she didn’t want to “mess with any competition.” Oofos was able to make the Highlighters custom recovery sandals that come in two colors: black and neon yellow. According to the video they both say “Highlighters” with the Gamecocks logo on it.
“A lot of companies don’t have recovery shoes,” Staley said. “(The Highlighters) do enough for us that I know their (feet) are hurting some times,” Staley said.
Junior guard Raven Johnson told media that at first it seemed like Oofos was there to give a gift to the players, and that they “tricked them.” In the video, a man is heard saying “First ever NIL deal with all of you, first practice squad congratulations,” before South Carolina players are seen running over to celebrate them.
“We were excited they got it because they prepare us so well for games and big moments,” Johnson said. “We don’t (get) a win without them, they’re so hard on us, they make practice so much harder than games and that’s a big different for us.”
A’JA WILSON: A’ja Wilson’s just-revealed signature Nike ‘A’One’ shoe reflects her values. And fondness for pink
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women’s basketball practice players get NIL deal
