March 3, 2026
Three of Staley’s former gamers are at present caught in Israel, the place many play throughout WNBA low season.
Dawn Staley has referred to as upon the sports activities group to wish for the protected return house of former Black Gamecocks gamers.
Tiffany Mitchell, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, and Destiny Littleton, former gamers with the South Carolina Gamecocks, are at present trapped in Israel. Now, their former coach is utilizing her platform and affect to see about their protected return. The feminine athletes stay caught within the Middle East amid air strikes taking place between Iranian, Israeli, and American forces.
Tensions look like on the rise, with extra air strikes spreading all through neighboring nations just like the United Arab Emirates. Amid the geopolitical battle, Staley has made a public cry for assist in getting these ladies house.
Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who’re in a battle zone in Israel!! We are working a plan to get house. Let us pray for our family members to return house safely asap! Thank you prematurely. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) February 28, 2026
“Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who’re in a battle zone in Israel,” expressed the award-winning coach. “We are working a plan to get house. Let us pray for our family members to return house safely asap! Thank you prematurely.”
The three ladies all play for groups inside Israel’s high ladies’s basketball league. Since the missiles between the feuding nations had been launched, the airspace all through the Middle East has shut down. Currently, the ladies stay unable to flee the realm, like many U.S. residents at present overseas.
Littleton shed extra mild on social media about her present predicament, as many in Israel observe orders to seek out adequate shelter from the air raids. The skilled athlete has saved her followers up to date by posting movies with sirens overheard within the background.
Update : I’m protected pic.twitter.com/OioW4Auyfu
— Destiny Littleton (@dstnylttltn24) February 28, 2026
“I’m simply making an attempt to remain calm,” Littleton stated in a single video. “I actually don’t need to even be out right here on the streets. I’ll maintain you up to date.”
Littleton detailed her journey to a protected room throughout the warning sirens. She even confirmed footage of potential bombs flying within the air, whereas listening to one other one go off whereas recording. The Team USA ladies’s basketball participant also spoke to ESPN concerning the circumstances she and others face as they attempt to discover a protected departure.
“I’m doing all proper — shaken up however blessed to be protected. There are present choices being checked out and [we’ll] know extra data as soon as we’ve executed these choices to securely get out.”
However, a swift return appears unlikely for Littleton and fellow Gamecocks gamers. Especially with affirmation that the primary wave of strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside dozens of schoolchildren and civilians, the U.S. State Department has inspired Americans to shelter in place because the state of affairs unfolds.
While Staley tries to work with authorities officers to convey her former gamers house, she later thanked her supporters for holding the younger ladies of their prayers.
Thank you everybody for praying for our @GamecockWBB gamers and relations. Please maintain them coated in prayer till they’re house! Appreciate it! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) March 1, 2026
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