Star sighting: Champion coach Dawn Staley at Disney World

Dawn Staley, head coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, kept her post-championship game promise of “I’m headed to Disney World.” Staley celebrated with stops at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and Magic Kingdom, where she and coaches paraded on a float alongside Minnie Mouse.

Staley’s Gamecocks finished their undefeated season with an 87-75 win over Iowa earlier this month. It marks the program’s third national championship. Staley has coached at USC since 2008.

She continued the long tradition of athletes of giving shout-outs to Disney as part of a televised promotion and celebration.

“I secretly wanted to win because I got to say it, and I got to say it in front of over 18 million people where I was going — I’m going to Walt Disney World,” Staley said in an interview near Cinderella Castle on Saturday.

“This is the parade of all parades only because it brings so many smiles to so many kids,” Staley said. “They might not even know who I am but because I’m standing beside Minnie … Minnie is the one who lifts everyone up.”

Disney World also shared photos of Staley and her coaching staff aboard Animal Kingdom’s Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction, where they spotted the park’s newborn elephant named Corra.

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Recent notables to appear in “I’m going to Disney” promotions include NFL stars Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Nick Foles. Honored women have been fewer in number, including the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team in 1999, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1993 and Miss America Gretchen Carlson in 1988.

“Women’s basketball has lifted itself up. We’re going to broaden it by me being here,” Staley said.

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