Staley urges Te’a Cooper to receive legal counseling over NCAA decision

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — After Carolina’s win over Arkansas Thursday night, Dawn Staley said — in a joking tone — that USC transfer Te’a Cooper should “lawyer up” following the NCAA’s decision to deny her waiver request to play this season.

Cooper, a transfer from Tennessee, is required by NCAA rules to sit out one season before being eligible to play, but her situation is a little different.

The transfer guard was injured in her second season at Tennessee, which forced her to miss one year of eligibility, so USC is arguing that season should count as the year off, making Cooper eligible to play immediately.

On Friday, ABC Columbia asked Staley whether she believes Cooper should seek legal counsel.

“It’s worked for some other cases. I think the guy at N.C. State, I think he went that route and he got things overturned, so you can give it a try,” Staley said. “We’ve already been told no, so hearing no is not going to hurt our feelings any more. But if there are any lawyers out there that want to do some pro bono work, Te’a’s available.”

The Gamecocks host 11th-ranked Missouri Sunday at 6 p.m.