Dawn Staley, the coach of South Carolina's women's basketball team, predicts that the sport will continue to improve.

• After her team's undefeated season and Caitlin Clark's record-breaking college career, South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley stated that the sport is still in its early stages.
• On Tuesday, the New York Stock Exchange was rung by the South Carolina Gamecocks.
• Staley called for schools to invest more in women's sports.

Caitlin Clark's record-breaking college career has ended, but Dawn Staley believes women's basketball is just getting started.

"I believe our game has been constrained, but now it's breaking through the limits. I predict it will only improve from here on out," she stated on CNBC on Tuesday.

The Gamecocks, led by their Hall of Fame coach and former player, won their third national championship and first perfect season in history by defeating Clark and Iowa earlier this month. The game, which was broadcast on , was the most-watched basketball game at any level since 2019, according to Nielsen.

On Tuesday, the Gamecocks, led by Staley, visited the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell in celebration of their national championship win. This appearance is just one more example of how women's sports have reached new heights this year, with basketball drawing record-breaking audiences thanks to Clark's pursuit of the college basketball scoring record and South Carolina's bid for an undefeated season.

The Women's National Basketball Association draft on Monday night saw Clark selected first, and her arrival to the Indiana Fever has caused ticket prices to rise across the U.S.

Staley highlighted the Gamecocks as a reason for schools to prioritize investment in women's sports.

"She expressed hope that every school or university would invest in women's sports like South Carolina, including her salary and the development of student athletes."

Staley, the second-highest-paid coach in women's college basketball, earned a reported $680,000 in bonuses following South Carolina's championship, bringing his annual salary to $3.1 million.

She said that now is the time schools are seeing a return on investment when they invest in our game.

Staley considered the impact of Clark on women's basketball beyond just attracting new viewers, as he also made appearances on shows like "Saturday Night Live."

Staley praised Caitlin Clark, stating that she is a superstar and deserves credit for raising the level of play.