COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina guard Brea Beal is more than the X factor in one of the country’s best defenses. She’s also a four-year lesson in sacrifice and reinvention, a committed athlete who may soon add a second straight NCAA title to her basketball resumé.
She is generally third when most think of Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley’s landmark recruiting class from 2019 led by heralded All-American Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke, the team’s leading scorer this season. Beal, though, could have the most critical role for the team at the Final Four, most likely checking All-American Caitlin Clark of Iowa in the national semifinals.
The Gamecocks (36-0) face the Hawkeyes (30-6) in Friday night’s second game in Dallas. LSU (32-2) and Virginia Tech (31-4) meet in the first semifinal at 7 p.m., and the winners will face off Sunday in the title game.
Beal, who has started 136 of 137 games in her four seasons, and her senior teammates have racked up championships in their time. They have won three Southeastern Conference tournament titles, have been to three straight Final Fours and are chasing their second consecutive NCAA crown.
Beal takes on the opponent’s best player and, more times than not, limits her effectiveness — a role that took Beal time to embrace.