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| image = Dawn Staley coaching.jpg
| image = Dawn Staley coaching.jpg
| width =
| width =
| caption = Staley in 2020
| caption = Staley with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2020
| league = [[Southeastern Conference]]
| league = [[Southeastern Conference]]
| team = South Carolina Gamecocks
| team = South Carolina Gamecocks
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| years2 = 1996–1998
| years2 = 1996–1998
| team2 = [[Philadelphia Rage|Richmond / Philadelphia Rage]]
| team2 = [[Philadelphia Rage|Richmond / Philadelphia Rage]]
| years3 = 1999–2005
| years3 = {{WNBA Year|1999}}–{{WNBA Year|2005}}
| team3 = [[Charlotte Sting]]
| team3 = [[Charlotte Sting]]
| years4 = 2005–2006
| years4 = {{WNBA Year|2005}}–{{WNBA Year|2006}}
| team4 = [[Houston Comets]]
| team4 = [[Houston Comets]]
| cyears1 = 2000–2008
| cyears1 = 2000–2008
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* [[WNBA All-Decade Team|WNBA 10th Anniversary Team]] (2006)
* [[WNBA All-Decade Team|WNBA 10th Anniversary Team]] (2006)
* [[WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time|WNBA 15th Anniversary Team]] (2011)
* [[WNBA's Top 15 Players of All Time|WNBA 15th Anniversary Team]] (2011)
* [[WNBA All-Star Game#Three-Point Contest|WNBA Three-Point Shootout champion]] ({{WNBA Year|2006}})
* [[WNBA All-Star Game#Skills Challenge|WNBA Skills Challenge champion]] ({{WNBA Year|2003}})
* 2× [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|ABL]] All-Star (1997, 1998)
* 2× [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|ABL]] All-Star (1997, 1998)
* [[NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player|NCAA Tournament MOP]] (1991)
* 2x [[ACC Athlete of the Year|ACC Female Athlete of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* [[ACC women's basketball tournament|ACC Tournament MVP]] (1992)
* 2× [[Honda Sports Award (basketball)|Honda Sports Award]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[Honda Sports Award (basketball)|Honda Sports Award]] (1991, 1992)
* [[Honda-Broderick Cup]] (1991)
* 2× [[Naismith College Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[Naismith College Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[WBCA Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[WBCA Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[USBWA Women's National Player of the Year|USBWA Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[USBWA Women's National Player of the Year|USBWA Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 2× [[Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year|ACC Player of the Year]] (1991, 1992)
* 3x [[Women's Basketball Coaches Association|Kodak]] All-American (1990–1992)
* 2x All-American – [[United States Basketball Writers Association|USBWA]] (1991, 1992)
* 3x First-team All-[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] (1990–1992)
* ACC Rookie of the Year (1989)

'''As coach:'''
'''As coach:'''
* 3× [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Tournament]] champion ([[2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2017]], [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2022]], [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2024]])
* 3× [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Tournament]] champion ([[2017 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2017]], [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2022]], [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2024]])
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| image_size = 250
| image_size = 250
}}
}}
'''Dawn Michelle Staley''' (born May 4, 1970)<ref name="NCAA Coaches"/> is an American [[basketball]] Hall of Fame player and coach who is currently the head coach for the reigning champion [[South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball|South Carolina Gamecocks]] women's team. Staley won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA as a player and later was head coach of another U.S. gold-medal winning team.<!--Olympic medals are not awarded to coaches--> Staley was elected to carry the [[Flag of the United States|United States flag]] at the opening ceremony of the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]. After playing point guard for the [[Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball|University of Virginia]] under [[Debbie Ryan]], and winning the gold medal at the [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Summer Olympics]], she played professionally in the [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|American Basketball League]] and [[WNBA]]. In 2011, fans named Staley one of the top 15 players in WNBA history. Staley was inducted into the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2012. She was elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2013.
'''Dawn Michelle Staley''' (born May 4, 1970)<ref name="NCAA Coaches"/> is an American [[basketball]] coach and former player who is the head coach for the [[South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball|South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team]]. A [[point guard]], she played [[college basketball]] for the [[Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball|Virginia Cavaliers]] and spent eight seasons in the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA), primarily with the [[Charlotte Sting]]. Staley also played on the [[United States women's national basketball team]], winning three gold medals at the [[Olympic Games]] from 1996 to 2004, and was the head coach of the team that won an Olympic gold medal in 2021<!--Olympic medals are not awarded to coaches-->.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Day |first=Meredith |date=August 6, 2021 |title=Team USA Women's Basketball Secures 7th Straight Gold Medal, Defeating Japan |url=https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/tokyo-olympics/team-usa-womens-basketball-secures-7th-straight-gold-medal-defeating-japan/186825 |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=NBC Sports}}</ref> She is the first person to win the [[Naismith Award]] as both a player and a coach.

While a WNBA player, she started coaching the [[Temple University]] [[Temple Owls women's basketball|Owls women's basketball]] team in 2000. In eight years at Temple, she led the program to six NCAA tournaments, three regular-season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles.

On May 7, 2008, she was named head coach for women's basketball at the [[University of South Carolina]]. Staley built South Carolina's program from the ground up. In her first six seasons as head coach, she improved their record every year, winning the [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] in 2013–14. In late 2014, her team achieved the program's first #1 ranking, making her only the second individual to both play on and coach a #1-ranked team. Staley has led South Carolina to eight SEC regular season championships, eight SEC tournament championships, eight [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Result by school and by year|Sweet Sixteens]], five [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Result by school and by year|Final Fours]], and three [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA women's basketball national championships]].

On April 2, 2020, Staley became the first person to win the [[Naismith Award]] as both a player and a coach. She also won the other three major National Coach of the Year awards after she led her team to a 32-win season and a final ranking of #1 in both major polls.

Staley served as the [[United States women's national basketball team|United States women's national team]] head coach from 2017 to 2021, finishing with a perfect 45–0 record, before returning full time to South Carolina. In the [[Basketball at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|2020 Tokyo Olympics]], Staley won her first gold medal as head coach for Team USA, and fourth overall, winning all six games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Day |first=Meredith |date=August 6, 2021 |title=Team USA Women's Basketball Secures 7th Straight Gold Medal, Defeating Japan |url=https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/tokyo-olympics/team-usa-womens-basketball-secures-7th-straight-gold-medal-defeating-japan/186825 |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=NBC Sports}}</ref>


During her college career with Virginia from 1988 to 1992, Staley set the [[NCAA]] record for steals, the school record for points, and the [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] record for assists. She played professionally in the [[American Basketball League (1996–1998)|American Basketball League]] (ABL) during its three years of operation before being selected ninth overall by the Sting in the [[1999 WNBA draft]]. As a member of the Sting and the [[Houston Comets]], she received six consecutive [[WNBA All-Star]] selections from 2001 to her final season in 2006. Staley spent most of her WNBA career simultaneously serving as the head coach of the [[Temple Owls women's basketball|Temple Owls women's basketball team]] from 2000 to 2008, leading them to six NCAA tournaments, three regular-season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles.
On April 3, 2022, Staley led the Gamecocks to their second national title with a [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game|64–49]] win over [[2021–22 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn]], finishing the season [[2021–22 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|35–2]] and ranked #1 in both major polls for the entire season. Staley would be named [[Naismith College Coach of the Year|Naismith Award]] winner as the best coach in the nation for 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Carolina pounds UConn, 64-49, to take women's basketball championship|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/south-carolina-pounds-uconn-64-49-take-womens-basketball-championship-rcna22777 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=NBC News |via=The Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Titus |first=Payton |date=2024-04-04 |title=Best of the best: South Carolina’s Dawn Staley named Naismith Coach of the Year |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/best-of-the-best-south-carolina-s-dawn-staley-named-naismith-coach-of-the-year/ar-BB1l1Sse |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=MSN.com |via=''[[The Charlotte Observer]]''}}</ref>


On April 7, 2024, she guided the #1 ranked Gamecocks to an undefeated [[2023–24 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|38–0]] season, defeating [[2023–24 Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team|Iowa]] [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game|87–75]] to win the team's third [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|national title]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Carolina wins 2024 national title: Gamecocks take down Caitlin Clark, Iowa; complete undefeated season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/news/south-carolina-wins-2024-national-title-gamecocks-take-down-caitlin-clark-iowa-complete-undefeated-season/live/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=CBS Sports}}</ref> Staley once again won National Coach of the year honors.
After becoming South Carolina's head coach in 2008, Staley rebuilt the Gamecocks into one of the top women's basketball programs. During her 16 seasons, she has led South Carolina to eight SEC regular season championships, eight SEC tournament championships, eight [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Result by school and by year|Sweet Sixteens]], five [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament#Result by school and by year|Final Fours]], and three [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA women's basketball national championships]], including the school's first in 2017 and a [[perfect season]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |title=South Carolina pounds UConn, 64-49, to take women's basketball championship|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/south-carolina-pounds-uconn-64-49-take-womens-basketball-championship-rcna22777 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |website=NBC News |via=The Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Titus |first=Payton |date=2024-04-04 |title=Best of the best: South Carolina's Dawn Staley named Naismith Coach of the Year |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/best-of-the-best-south-carolina-s-dawn-staley-named-naismith-coach-of-the-year/ar-BB1l1Sse |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=MSN.com |via=[[The Charlotte Observer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=South Carolina wins 2024 national title: Gamecocks take down Caitlin Clark, Iowa; complete undefeated season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college-basketball/news/south-carolina-wins-2024-national-title-gamecocks-take-down-caitlin-clark-iowa-complete-undefeated-season/live/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=CBS Sports}}</ref> Staley was inducted to the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2012 and the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2013.


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
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===USA Basketball===
===USA Basketball===
Staley was named to the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team (now called the [[United States women's national under-12 basketball team|U19 team]]). The team participated in the second Junior World Championship, held in [[Bilbao]], Spain, in July 1989. Team USA lost their opening game to South Korea in overtime, then lost a two-point game to Australia. After defeating Bulgaria, Team USA lost another close game, this time to Czechoslovakia by three points. The team followed that loss with a victory against Zaire, but dropped its final game to Spain, again by three points. Staley averaged 10.8 points per game and recorded 14 steals over the course of the event, both second highest on the team. The Americans finished the tournament in seventh place. <ref name="1989 U19"/>
Staley was named to the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team (now called the [[United States women's national under-12 basketball team|U19 team]]). The team participated in the second Junior World Championship, held in [[Bilbao]], Spain, in July 1989. Team USA lost their opening game to South Korea in overtime, then lost a two-point game to Australia. After defeating Bulgaria, Team USA lost another close game, this time to Czechoslovakia by three points. The team followed that loss with a victory against Zaire, but dropped its final game to Spain, again by three points. Staley averaged 10.8 points per game and recorded 14 steals over the course of the event, both second highest on the team. The Americans finished the tournament in seventh place.<ref name="1989 U19"/>


Staley was named to the team representing the United States at the World University Games held during July 1991 in [[Sheffield]], England. While the American team had won gold in 1983, they finished with the silver in 1985, in fifth place in 1987, and did not field a team in 1989. The team was coached by [[Tara VanDerveer]] of Stanford. After winning opening games easily, Team USA faced China in the medal round. The Americans shot only 36% from the field, but limited the Chinese to just 35%, and advanced to the gold medal game by a score of 79–76. There they faced Spain, who had won all seven of their previous tournament games. However, Team USA defeated them easily, 88–62, to claim the gold medal. Staley averaged 4.9 points per game for the tournament. <ref name="1991 WUG"/>
Staley was named to the team representing the United States at the World University Games held during July 1991 in [[Sheffield]], England. While the American team had won gold in 1983, they finished with the silver in 1985, in fifth place in 1987, and did not field a team in 1989. The team was coached by [[Tara VanDerveer]] of Stanford. After winning opening games easily, Team USA faced China in the medal round. The Americans shot only 36% from the field, but limited the Chinese to just 35%, and advanced to the gold medal game by a score of 79–76. There they faced Spain, who had won all seven of their previous tournament games. However, Team USA defeated them easily, 88–62, to claim the gold medal. Staley averaged 4.9 points per game for the tournament.<ref name="1991 WUG"/>


Staley competed with [[USA Basketball]] as a member of the 1992 [[United States women's national basketball team#William Jones Cup|Jones Cup Team]] that won the Gold in [[Taipei]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_1992.html|title=1992 WOMEN'S R. WILLIAM JONES CUP|access-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043753/http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_1992.html|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Staley competed with [[USA Basketball]] as a member of the 1992 [[United States women's national basketball team#William Jones Cup|Jones Cup Team]] that won the Gold in [[Taipei]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_1992.html|title=1992 WOMEN'S R. WILLIAM JONES CUP|access-date=August 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043753/http://archive.usab.com/womens/wjcup_1992.html|archive-date=August 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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In the [[1999 WNBA draft]], Staley was selected with the ninth overall pick by the [[Charlotte Sting]]. In 2001, she led the Sting to the championship game of the [[WNBA playoffs]].
In the [[1999 WNBA draft]], Staley was selected with the ninth overall pick by the [[Charlotte Sting]]. In 2001, she led the Sting to the championship game of the [[WNBA playoffs]].


On August 1, 2005, Staley was traded to the [[Houston Comets]]. Staley announced before the start of the WNBA season that she would be retiring after the Comets' season was over. The Comets made the playoffs and faced the [[Sacramento Monarchs]] in the first round. The Monarchs swept the Comets and won the series 2–0, ending Staley's career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in the 15-year history of the WNBA.<ref>{{cite web |title=WNBA.com: AllStar 2011 |url=http://www.wnba.com/allstar/2011/top15_072311.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 24, 2017 |website=WNBA.com}}</ref>
On August 1, 2005, Staley was traded to the [[Houston Comets]]. Staley announced before the start of the WNBA season that she would be retiring after the Comets' season was over. The Comets made the playoffs and faced the [[Sacramento Monarchs]] in the first round. The Monarchs swept the Comets and won the series 2–0, ending Staley's career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in the 15-year history of the WNBA.<ref>{{cite web |title=WNBA.com: AllStar 2011 |url=http://www.wnba.com/allstar/2011/top15_072311.html |access-date=November 24, 2017 |website=WNBA.com}}{{dead link|date=April 2024}}</ref>


==Coaching career==
==Coaching career==
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In 2016–17, the Gamecocks repeated as SEC regular-season and tournament champions for the third year in a row, and advanced to the second Final Four in school history. They defeated conference rival Mississippi State in the national championship game to win the first national title in school history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Matt |date=2017-04-02 |title=South Carolina wins NCAA women's national championship |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article142309749.html |access-date=2019-08-07 |website=thestate.com}}</ref> Staley became the second [[African American]] to lead a women's basketball team to a national championship; [[Carolyn Peck]] had coached [[Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball|Purdue]] to the [[1999 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1999 national championship]]. After the 2017 win, ''[[The Post and Courier]]'' listed Staley first in their ranking of the 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sapakoff |first=Gene |title=The 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports: Dawn Staley, Dabo Swinney top list that includes Bill Murray, Darius Rucker |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/columnists/the-25-most-powerful-people-in-south-carolina-sports-dawn-staley-dabo-swinney-top-list/article_1441b204-51fa-11e7-ac33-177731fbdc3c.html |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[The Post and Courier]] |date=June 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Buckner 2021">{{cite news |last=Buckner |first=Candace |title=Dawn Staley, another title in sight, won't stop speaking out: 'I can't not do it' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/19/dawn-staley-south-carolina-basketball-protest/ |access-date=21 March 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>
In 2016–17, the Gamecocks repeated as SEC regular-season and tournament champions for the third year in a row, and advanced to the second Final Four in school history. They defeated conference rival Mississippi State in the national championship game to win the first national title in school history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Matt |date=2017-04-02 |title=South Carolina wins NCAA women's national championship |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-womens-basketball/article142309749.html |access-date=2019-08-07 |website=thestate.com}}</ref> Staley became the second [[African American]] to lead a women's basketball team to a national championship; [[Carolyn Peck]] had coached [[Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball|Purdue]] to the [[1999 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1999 national championship]]. After the 2017 win, ''[[The Post and Courier]]'' listed Staley first in their ranking of the 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sapakoff |first=Gene |title=The 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports: Dawn Staley, Dabo Swinney top list that includes Bill Murray, Darius Rucker |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/columnists/the-25-most-powerful-people-in-south-carolina-sports-dawn-staley-dabo-swinney-top-list/article_1441b204-51fa-11e7-ac33-177731fbdc3c.html |access-date=21 March 2021 |work=[[The Post and Courier]] |date=June 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Buckner 2021">{{cite news |last=Buckner |first=Candace |title=Dawn Staley, another title in sight, won't stop speaking out: 'I can't not do it' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/03/19/dawn-staley-south-carolina-basketball-protest/ |access-date=21 March 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 19, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Coach_Staley_with_fan.jpg|thumb|Coach Staley with a young fan after the February 13, 2020 win over Auburn]]
[[File:Coach_Staley_with_fan.jpg|thumb|Coach Staley with a young fan after the February 13, 2020, win over Auburn]]
Under Staley the program has captured five SEC regular season championships, seven SEC tournament titles, four Final Fours, three NCAA national championships, seven Sweet Sixteen appearances, five SEC player of the year awards and five SEC freshman of the year awards. Staley herself has been awarded SEC coach of the year five times.
Under Staley the program has captured five SEC regular season championships, seven SEC tournament titles, four Final Fours, three NCAA national championships, seven Sweet Sixteen appearances, five SEC player of the year awards and five SEC freshman of the year awards. Staley herself has been awarded SEC coach of the year five times.


In 2020, Staley led the Gamecocks to a 32–1 season, winning yet another SEC regular season, and tournament championship. The Gamecocks finished #1 in both major polls, before the NCAA tournament was cancelled. Staley swept the national coach of the year awards in 2020; she is the first person to win the Naismith award as a player and also as a coach.
In 2020, Staley led the Gamecocks to a 32–1 season, winning yet another SEC regular season, and tournament championship. The Gamecocks finished #1 in both major polls before the NCAA tournament was cancelled. Staley swept the national coach of the year awards in 2020; she is the first person to win the Naismith award as a player and also as a coach.


In 2021, Staley led her team to a third Final Four, before losing a controversial game to Stanford 66–65.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2021 |title=Missed kick ball call ends in Stanford fast-break bucket |url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/31184741 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |website=ESPN}}</ref> Staley's Gamecocks signed the #1 class for the then-upcoming 2021–22 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Laflin |first=Shane |last2=Key |first2=Jason |name-list-style=and |date=November 19, 2020 |title=2021 women's college basketball recruiting class rankings |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30342046 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |website=ESPN}}</ref> On October 15, 2021, Staley signed a seven-year, $22.4 million contract extension with South Carolina, making her the highest-paid Black college basketball coach in the country.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Coleman |first=Madeline |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Dawn Staley Receives Historic Contract Extension: 'Huge Statement For Women' |url=https://www.si.com/college/2021/10/15/dawn-staley-receives-historic-seven-year-contract-extension |access-date=October 30, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>
In 2021, Staley led her team to a third Final Four, before losing a controversial game to Stanford 66–65.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2021 |title=Missed kick ball call ends in Stanford fast-break bucket |url=https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/31184741 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |website=ESPN}}</ref> Staley's Gamecocks signed the #1 class for the then-upcoming 2021–22 season.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Laflin |first1=Shane |last2=Key |first2=Jason |name-list-style=and |date=November 19, 2020 |title=2021 women's college basketball recruiting class rankings |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30342046 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |website=ESPN}}</ref> On October 15, 2021, Staley signed a seven-year, $22.4 million contract extension with South Carolina, making her the highest-paid Black college basketball coach in the country.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Coleman |first=Madeline |date=October 15, 2021 |title=Dawn Staley Receives Historic Contract Extension: 'Huge Statement For Women' |url=https://www.si.com/college/2021/10/15/dawn-staley-receives-historic-seven-year-contract-extension |access-date=October 30, 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>


In 2022 the Gamecocks were #1 in both polls for the entire season, they would go on to defeat 14 ranked teams, including [[2021–22 Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team|Stanford]], [[2021–22 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn]], [[2021–22 NC State Wolfpack women's basketball team|NC State]], [[Oregon Ducks women's basketball|Oregon]], [[2021–22 Maryland Terrapins women's basketball team|Maryland]], [[2021–22 Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team|Duke]], [[2021–22 LSU Tigers women's basketball team|LSU]], [[2021–22 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]] and [[Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball|Georgia]]. In the [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], the Gamecocks defeated [[Howard Bison women's basketball|Howard]], [[2021–22 Miami Hurricanes women's basketball team|Miami]], [[2021–22 North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team|North Carolina]], [[2021–22 Creighton Bluejays women's basketball team|Creighton]], [[2021–22 Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team|Louisville]], and then [[2021–22 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn]] again to win a second national championship. Staley is the first coach to defeat [[Geno Auriemma]], [[Tara VanDerveer]] and [[Kim Mulkey]] in the same season. Staley was again named Naismith Award winner, and coached the National Player of the Year [[Aliyah Boston]].
In 2022 the Gamecocks were #1 in both polls for the entire season, they would go on to defeat 14 ranked teams, including [[2021–22 Stanford Cardinal women's basketball team|Stanford]], [[2021–22 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn]], [[2021–22 NC State Wolfpack women's basketball team|NC State]], [[Oregon Ducks women's basketball|Oregon]], [[2021–22 Maryland Terrapins women's basketball team|Maryland]], [[2021–22 Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team|Duke]], [[2021–22 LSU Tigers women's basketball team|LSU]], [[2021–22 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]] and [[Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball|Georgia]]. In the [[2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], the Gamecocks defeated [[Howard Bison women's basketball|Howard]], [[2021–22 Miami Hurricanes women's basketball team|Miami]], [[2021–22 North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball team|North Carolina]], [[2021–22 Creighton Bluejays women's basketball team|Creighton]], [[2021–22 Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team|Louisville]], and then [[2021–22 UConn Huskies women's basketball team|UConn]] again to win a second national championship. Staley is the first coach to defeat [[Geno Auriemma]], [[Tara VanDerveer]] and [[Kim Mulkey]] in the same season. Staley was again named Naismith Award winner, and coached the National Player of the Year [[Aliyah Boston]].
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===USA Basketball===
===USA Basketball===
Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach for the USA national team in 2006, a team in transition. Lisa Leslie, who had led the team in scoring in the 2004 Olympics, the 2002 World Championships, the 2000 Olympics, the 1998 World Championships, and the 1996 Olympics was no longer on the team. [[Sheryl Swoopes]] was available but hampered by injuries, with Staley transitioning from player to coach. Newcomers [[Sue Bird]], [[Candace Parker]] and [[Diana Taurasi]] picked up the slack, but it was a team in transition. As an additional challenge, some members of the squad were unable to join the team for practices due to [[WNBA]] commitments. The team started out strong, winning each of the six preliminary games, including the game against Russia. In the quarterfinals, the USA team beat Spain 90–56. The semifinal was a rematch against Russia, but this time the Russian team prevailed, 75–68. The USA faced Brazil in the bronze medal game, and won easily 99–59.
Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach for the USA national team in 2006, a team in transition. [[Lisa Leslie]], who had led the team in scoring in the 2004 Olympics, the 2002 World Championships, the 2000 Olympics, the 1998 World Championships, and the 1996 Olympics was no longer on the team. [[Sheryl Swoopes]] was available but hampered by injuries, with Staley transitioning from player to coach. Newcomers [[Sue Bird]], [[Candace Parker]] and [[Diana Taurasi]] picked up the slack, but it was a team in transition. As an additional challenge, some members of the squad were unable to join the team for practices due to [[WNBA]] commitments. The team started out strong, winning each of the six preliminary games, including the game against Russia. In the quarterfinals, the USA team beat Spain 90–56. The semifinal was a rematch against Russia, but this time the Russian team prevailed, 75–68. The USA faced Brazil in the bronze medal game, and won easily 99–59.


During the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing, China, Staley served as an assistant coach under Team USA head coach [[Anne Donovan]] and helped the Americans win their fourth straight gold medal in women's basketball and sixth in their past seven Olympic appearances.
During the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing, China, Staley served as an assistant coach under Team USA head coach [[Anne Donovan]] and helped the Americans win their fourth straight gold medal in women's basketball and sixth in their past seven Olympic appearances.
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* 2008 – [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/072311aaa.html|title=Former UVa Great Dawn Staley Named To Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012|access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>
* 2008 – [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/072311aaa.html|title=Former UVa Great Dawn Staley Named To Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012|access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>
* 2012 – Inducted into the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]].
* 2012 – Inducted into the [[Women's Basketball Hall of Fame]].
* 2013 – [[Order of the Palmetto]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Staley to be Awarded Order of the Palmetto |url=http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/111513aaa.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 24, 2017 |website=GamecocksOnline.com}}</ref>
* 2013 – [[Order of the Palmetto]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Staley to be Awarded Order of the Palmetto |url=http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/111513aaa.html |access-date=November 24, 2017 |website=GamecocksOnline.com}}{{dead link|date=April 2024}}</ref>
* 2014 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2014 – SEC Coach of the Year
* 2015 – SEC Co-Coach of the Year
* 2015 – SEC Co-Coach of the Year
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* 2024 – [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year#Women's|AP National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year#Women's|AP National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[WBCA National Coach of the Year Award|WBCA National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[WBCA National Coach of the Year Award|WBCA National Coach of the Year]]
* 2024 – [[Jimmy V Award]]


==Career statistics==
==Career statistics==
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| confstanding = 1st
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|'''NCAA Champions''']]
| postseason = [[2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|'''NCAA Champions''']]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = [[2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2024–25]]
| name = [[2024–25 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team|South Carolina]]
| overall = 0–0
| conference = 0–0
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
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Staley is a [[Christianity|Christian]] and routinely thanks [[God in Christianity|God]] after games. On Easter Sunday 2024, Staley said postgame "He is risen" referring to the [[resurrection of Jesus|resurrection of Jesus Christ]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoole |first=Beth |date=April 8, 2024 |title=Staley praises God in post-game comments, sparking conversation|url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2024/04/01/staleys-praises-god-post-game-comments-sparking-conversation/|access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=Fox Carolina}}</ref> After her team won the 2024 National title, Staley thanked [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reyes |first=Lorenzo |date=April 8, 2024 |title=After NCAA title win, Dawn Staley spoke about her faith. It's nothing new for SC coach. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/finalfour/2024/04/08/dawn-staley-south-carolina-title-win-faith-religion/73243193007/|access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=USA Today}}</ref>
Staley is a [[Christianity|Christian]] and routinely thanks [[God in Christianity|God]] after games. On Easter Sunday 2024, Staley said postgame "He is risen" referring to the [[resurrection of Jesus|resurrection of Jesus Christ]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoole |first=Beth |date=April 8, 2024 |title=Staley praises God in post-game comments, sparking conversation|url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2024/04/01/staleys-praises-god-post-game-comments-sparking-conversation/|access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=Fox Carolina}}</ref> After her team won the 2024 National title, Staley thanked [[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reyes |first=Lorenzo |date=April 8, 2024 |title=After NCAA title win, Dawn Staley spoke about her faith. It's nothing new for SC coach. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/finalfour/2024/04/08/dawn-staley-south-carolina-title-win-faith-religion/73243193007/|access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=USA Today}}</ref>


Staley now heads the Dawn Staley Foundation, which gives middle-school children a positive influence in their lives by sponsoring an after-school program at the Hank Gathers Recreation Center. The Center focuses on academics and athletics and sponsors basketball leagues and other fund-raising activities.
Staley heads the Dawn Staley Foundation, which focuses on academics and athletics and sponsors basketball leagues and other fund-raising activities.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}


Staley hosted a podcast, ''Netlife'', produced by ''[[Just Women's Sports]]'', beginning in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/dawn-staley-dream-podcast-guests-barack-obama-mother-teresa-oprah-2022-1|title=Dawn Staley has an ambitious list of dream guests — including world leaders and TV legends — for her new podcast|last=Cash|first=Meredith|date=2022-01-29|work=[[Business Insider|Insider]]|access-date=2023-07-19}}</ref>
Staley hosted a podcast, ''Netlife'', produced by ''[[Just Women's Sports]]'', beginning in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/dawn-staley-dream-podcast-guests-barack-obama-mother-teresa-oprah-2022-1|title=Dawn Staley has an ambitious list of dream guests — including world leaders and TV legends — for her new podcast|last=Cash|first=Meredith|date=2022-01-29|work=[[Business Insider|Insider]]|access-date=2023-07-19}}</ref>
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Staley is a fan of the [[NFL]]'s [[Philadelphia Eagles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Daryl |date=2017-04-10 |title=Dawn Staley has always had a special relationship with Philadelphia |url=https://andscape.com/features/dawn-staley-relationship-with-philadelphia/ |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Andscape |language=en-US}}</ref> Throughout the [[2022 NFL season]], Staley was often seen wearing their jerseys while coaching the Gamecocks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-12 |title=Dawn Staley repped her hometown Philadelphia Eagles with an iconic jersey as South Carolina faced LSU |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/02/dawn-staley-philadelphia-eagles-jersey-super-bowl-2023 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref>
Staley is a fan of the [[NFL]]'s [[Philadelphia Eagles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Daryl |date=2017-04-10 |title=Dawn Staley has always had a special relationship with Philadelphia |url=https://andscape.com/features/dawn-staley-relationship-with-philadelphia/ |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Andscape |language=en-US}}</ref> Throughout the [[2022 NFL season]], Staley was often seen wearing their jerseys while coaching the Gamecocks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-12 |title=Dawn Staley repped her hometown Philadelphia Eagles with an iconic jersey as South Carolina faced LSU |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/02/dawn-staley-philadelphia-eagles-jersey-super-bowl-2023 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref>

A guiding principle Staley lives by is, "The disciplined person can do anything."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schnell |first=Lindsay |date=2023-03-19 |title=South Carolina’s Dawn Staley wants to ‘pave the way for little girls and boys who look like me’ |url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/life/2023/03/19/dawn-staley-south-carolina-usa-today-women-year/11363481002 |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=USA Today |language=en-us}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Lisa Leslie]]
*[[Sheryl Swoopes]]
*[[List of college women's basketball coaches with 600 wins]]
*[[List of college women's basketball coaches with 600 wins]]


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==External links==
==External links==
* {{FIBA profile|new_id=20557-dawn-michelle-staley|name=Dawn Michelle Staley|old_id=6711}}
*{{FIBA profile}}
*{{Sports-reference}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com|dawn-staley}}


{{Southeastern Conference women's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Southeastern Conference women's basketball coach navbox}}
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{{WBCA Division I Coach of the Year}}
{{WBCA Division I Coach of the Year}}
{{Wooden Legends of Coaching Award}}
{{Wooden Legends of Coaching Award}}
{{Jimmy V Perseverance}}
}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Basketball|Biography|Philadelphia|Sports}}
{{Portal bar|Basketball|Biography|Philadelphia|Sports}}
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[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women]]
[[Category:African-American sportswomen]]
[[Category:All-American college women's basketball players]]
[[Category:All-American college women's basketball players]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Brazil]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Brazil]]
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[[Category:Temple Owls women's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Temple Owls women's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Universiade medalists in basketball]]
[[Category:Summer World University Games medalists in basketball]]
[[Category:Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball players]]
[[Category:Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball players]]
[[Category:WNBA All-Stars]]
[[Category:WNBA All-Stars]]

Latest revision as of 17:15, 22 October 2024

Dawn Staley
Staley with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2020
South Carolina Gamecocks
PositionHead coach
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (1970-05-04) May 4, 1970 (age 54)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Career information
High schoolDobbins Tech
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeVirginia (1988–1992)
WNBA draft1999: 1st round, 9th overall pick
Selected by the Charlotte Sting
Playing career1996–2006
PositionPoint guard
Number5
Coaching career2000–present
Career history
As player:
1994–1995Tarbes Gespe Bigorre
1996–1998Richmond / Philadelphia Rage
19992005Charlotte Sting
20052006Houston Comets
As coach:
2000–2008Temple
2008–presentSouth Carolina
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Dawn Michelle Staley (born May 4, 1970)[1] is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team. A point guard, she played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers and spent eight seasons in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), primarily with the Charlotte Sting. Staley also played on the United States women's national basketball team, winning three gold medals at the Olympic Games from 1996 to 2004, and was the head coach of the team that won an Olympic gold medal in 2021.[2] She is the first person to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach.

During her college career with Virginia from 1988 to 1992, Staley set the NCAA record for steals, the school record for points, and the ACC record for assists. She played professionally in the American Basketball League (ABL) during its three years of operation before being selected ninth overall by the Sting in the 1999 WNBA draft. As a member of the Sting and the Houston Comets, she received six consecutive WNBA All-Star selections from 2001 to her final season in 2006. Staley spent most of her WNBA career simultaneously serving as the head coach of the Temple Owls women's basketball team from 2000 to 2008, leading them to six NCAA tournaments, three regular-season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles.

After becoming South Carolina's head coach in 2008, Staley rebuilt the Gamecocks into one of the top women's basketball programs. During her 16 seasons, she has led South Carolina to eight SEC regular season championships, eight SEC tournament championships, eight Sweet Sixteens, five Final Fours, and three NCAA women's basketball national championships, including the school's first in 2017 and a perfect season in 2024.[3][4][5] Staley was inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Early life

[edit]

Her parents, Clarence and Estelle Staley, moved to North Philadelphia from Orangeburg County, South Carolina in the 1950s, when they were still teenagers. They married young and in 1967 moved into a three-bedroom, single-bath row house in the Raymond Rosen Homes housing project. Together, Clarence, a part-time carpenter, and Estelle, a homemaker, raised five children—three boys, Lawrence, Anthony and Eric, and two girls, Tracey and Dawn.[6] Fearful of her disciplinarian mother, who was of faith and would not spare the rod, Staley knew to "abide by her rules, you lived clean. You're good. You live a happy life".[7]

Playing career

[edit]

High school years

[edit]

Staley was named the national high school player of the year during her final season at Murrell Dobbins Vocational High School in Philadelphia.

College years

[edit]

Staley attended the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville, Virginia, from which she earned her degree in Rhetoric and Communication Studies.[8] During her four seasons in college, she led her team to four NCAA tournaments, three Final Fours and one national championship game. She was named the ACC female athlete of the year and the national player of the year in 1991 and 1992. Staley finished her college career with 2,135 points and held the NCAA record for career steals with 454 (which has since been broken by current record holder, Natalie White).[9] She finished her career at Virginia as the school's all-time scoring leader and as the ACC's all-time leader in assists at 729, but those records have since been broken by former UVA stars Monica Wright and Sharnee Zoll. Her number 24 is retired at UVA.

Overseas Pro Career

[edit]

In 1994–1995, after graduation, Staley played professional basketball in France in Tarbes, Italy, Brazil, and Spain before joining the ABL and then the WNBA.

USA Basketball

[edit]

Staley was named to the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team (now called the U19 team). The team participated in the second Junior World Championship, held in Bilbao, Spain, in July 1989. Team USA lost their opening game to South Korea in overtime, then lost a two-point game to Australia. After defeating Bulgaria, Team USA lost another close game, this time to Czechoslovakia by three points. The team followed that loss with a victory against Zaire, but dropped its final game to Spain, again by three points. Staley averaged 10.8 points per game and recorded 14 steals over the course of the event, both second highest on the team. The Americans finished the tournament in seventh place.[10]

Staley was named to the team representing the United States at the World University Games held during July 1991 in Sheffield, England. While the American team had won gold in 1983, they finished with the silver in 1985, in fifth place in 1987, and did not field a team in 1989. The team was coached by Tara VanDerveer of Stanford. After winning opening games easily, Team USA faced China in the medal round. The Americans shot only 36% from the field, but limited the Chinese to just 35%, and advanced to the gold medal game by a score of 79–76. There they faced Spain, who had won all seven of their previous tournament games. However, Team USA defeated them easily, 88–62, to claim the gold medal. Staley averaged 4.9 points per game for the tournament.[11]

Staley competed with USA Basketball as a member of the 1992 Jones Cup Team that won the Gold in Taipei.[12]

Staley played for Team USA throughout her career. In 1994 she competed in the World Championships and was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. She led the 1996 team to an undefeated record of 60–0 and the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. She was also a member of the 2000 Olympic team that defended the gold medal.[13]

Staley was selected to represent the United States at the 1995 USA Women's Pan American Games, but only four teams committed to participate, so the event was cancelled.[14]

Staley was named to the United States national team in 1998. The national team traveled to Berlin, Germany, in July and August 1998 for the FIBA World Championships. Team USA won a close opening game against Japan, 95–89, then won their next six games easily. In the semifinal game against Brazil, Team USA was behind as much as ten points in the first half, but went on to win, 93–79. The gold medal game was a rematch against Russia. In the first game, the Americans dominated almost from the beginning, but in the rematch, Russia took the early lead and led much of the way. With under two minutes remaining, Team USA was down by two points, but rallied and then held on to win the gold medal by a score of 71–65. Staley hit two free throws with ten seconds left to extend a three-point lead to five, then hit another free throw with three seconds left in the game to seal the 71–65 victory. Staley averaged 7.0 points per game and made a record 52 assists.[15]

In 2002, Staley was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in Zhangjiagang, Changzhou and Nanjing, China. The team was coached by Van Chancellor. Staley scored 4.9 points per game, and recorded a team-high 24 assists. Team USA won all nine games, including a close title game against Russia, with the teams separated by only one point late in the game.[16]

She won a third gold medal with Team USA at the 2004 Games in Athens. Her Olympic performance led to her being named 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete Of The Year at the end of the year. Before the Games, she was selected to carry the flag of the United States during the parade of nations at the opening ceremony.

ABL

[edit]

In 1996, she joined the Richmond Rage of the American Basketball League (ABL) and led the team to the ABL finals in 1997. The following season, the team moved to Staley's hometown of Philadelphia. Staley was named the 1996–97 All-ABL first team and the All-ABL second team, the following season.

WNBA

[edit]

In the 1999 WNBA draft, Staley was selected with the ninth overall pick by the Charlotte Sting. In 2001, she led the Sting to the championship game of the WNBA playoffs.

On August 1, 2005, Staley was traded to the Houston Comets. Staley announced before the start of the WNBA season that she would be retiring after the Comets' season was over. The Comets made the playoffs and faced the Sacramento Monarchs in the first round. The Monarchs swept the Comets and won the series 2–0, ending Staley's career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in the 15-year history of the WNBA.[17]

Coaching career

[edit]

Temple Owls (2000–2008)

[edit]

Staley had no interest in coaching when she was initially approached by the athletic director of Temple University, Dave O'Brien. She was on the Olympic team at the time which was attending the Final Four in Philadelphia. O'Brien, mindful that Staley was a Philadelphia native and star basketball player at Philadelphia's Dobbins Technical High School, talked her into visiting the campus, where she was guided to a conference room with a dozen people who were treating her visit as a job interview. When they asked her if she saw herself as a coach she replied "no, not at all". She initially resisted offers to become the coach. O'Brien changed his tactics and challenged her to identify some ways to turn the program around. She was still playing in the WNBA at the time and her friends told her it would be impossible to continue to play and coach. That challenge convinced her she should give coaching a try, and accepted the position of head coach at Temple.[18] In her first season, 2000–01, Temple advanced to the WNIT. In 2001, 2002 and 2004, her teams won the Atlantic 10 tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

In the 2004–05 season, Staley's Owls went 28–4, including a perfect 19–0 against Atlantic 10 opponents. However, they lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Rutgers University. Staley reached the 100-win plateau in the A-10 semifinals vs Xavier University that season, becoming the fastest coach in women's basketball to achieve that feat.

On May 7, 2008, it was confirmed by Temple University that Staley would leave Temple for the recently vacated coaching position at the University of South Carolina. She left Temple with the best overall record of 172–80, along with six NCAA appearances and four Atlantic 10 titles.

South Carolina Gamecocks (2008–present)

[edit]

At South Carolina she started rebuilding a program from scratch, suffering through two losing seasons at the start of her tenure. Starting with 10 wins during the 2008–09 season, she led the program to ever better finishes in each subsequent season, leading to the program's first number 1 ranking and Final Four appearance during the 2014–15 season. They picked up where they left off a year later, going undefeated in SEC play; however, they were upended in the Sweet 16 by Syracuse.

In 2016–17, the Gamecocks repeated as SEC regular-season and tournament champions for the third year in a row, and advanced to the second Final Four in school history. They defeated conference rival Mississippi State in the national championship game to win the first national title in school history.[19] Staley became the second African American to lead a women's basketball team to a national championship; Carolyn Peck had coached Purdue to the 1999 national championship. After the 2017 win, The Post and Courier listed Staley first in their ranking of the 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports.[20][21]

Coach Staley with a young fan after the February 13, 2020, win over Auburn

Under Staley the program has captured five SEC regular season championships, seven SEC tournament titles, four Final Fours, three NCAA national championships, seven Sweet Sixteen appearances, five SEC player of the year awards and five SEC freshman of the year awards. Staley herself has been awarded SEC coach of the year five times.

In 2020, Staley led the Gamecocks to a 32–1 season, winning yet another SEC regular season, and tournament championship. The Gamecocks finished #1 in both major polls before the NCAA tournament was cancelled. Staley swept the national coach of the year awards in 2020; she is the first person to win the Naismith award as a player and also as a coach.

In 2021, Staley led her team to a third Final Four, before losing a controversial game to Stanford 66–65.[22] Staley's Gamecocks signed the #1 class for the then-upcoming 2021–22 season.[23] On October 15, 2021, Staley signed a seven-year, $22.4 million contract extension with South Carolina, making her the highest-paid Black college basketball coach in the country.[24]

In 2022 the Gamecocks were #1 in both polls for the entire season, they would go on to defeat 14 ranked teams, including Stanford, UConn, NC State, Oregon, Maryland, Duke, LSU, Tennessee and Georgia. In the NCAA tournament, the Gamecocks defeated Howard, Miami, North Carolina, Creighton, Louisville, and then UConn again to win a second national championship. Staley is the first coach to defeat Geno Auriemma, Tara VanDerveer and Kim Mulkey in the same season. Staley was again named Naismith Award winner, and coached the National Player of the Year Aliyah Boston.

In 2022, following an alleged racist incident by a Brigham Young University fan against a member of the Duke women's volleyball team, Staley canceled the team's matchups against BYU in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.[25] Despite an investigation that did not find evidence to corroborate the claim, Staley declined to reinstate the series.[26]

Staley won her 600th game on February 22, 2024, in 786 games (534 at South Carolina).[27]

In 2024, Staley guided the team to a perfect 38–0 season, winning their third national title. Staley won her fourth Naismith Coach of the Year Award.

USA Basketball

[edit]

Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach for the USA national team in 2006, a team in transition. Lisa Leslie, who had led the team in scoring in the 2004 Olympics, the 2002 World Championships, the 2000 Olympics, the 1998 World Championships, and the 1996 Olympics was no longer on the team. Sheryl Swoopes was available but hampered by injuries, with Staley transitioning from player to coach. Newcomers Sue Bird, Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi picked up the slack, but it was a team in transition. As an additional challenge, some members of the squad were unable to join the team for practices due to WNBA commitments. The team started out strong, winning each of the six preliminary games, including the game against Russia. In the quarterfinals, the USA team beat Spain 90–56. The semifinal was a rematch against Russia, but this time the Russian team prevailed, 75–68. The USA faced Brazil in the bronze medal game, and won easily 99–59.

During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Staley served as an assistant coach under Team USA head coach Anne Donovan and helped the Americans win their fourth straight gold medal in women's basketball and sixth in their past seven Olympic appearances.

After coaching Team USA to a gold medal at the 2007 Pan Am games, she served as head coach to the U17 Team in 2014 and the U19 Team in 2015, winning gold medals at the U18 Americas Championship and the U19 FIBA World Championship. The USA basketball organization awarded her the code national coach of the year award as a result of the U19 gold medal. She shared the award with Sean Miller who coached the U19 men's team to a gold medal.

She served as an assistant coach under Team USA head coach Geno Auriemma for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and helped the Americans win their sixth straight gold medal in women's basketball and eighth in their past nine Olympic appearances.

On March 10, 2017, she was named head coach of USA national women's team.[28]

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Staley won her first gold medal as Team USA's Head coach, winning all six games and extending her record to 45–0. Staley also coached Team USA to a gold medal in the 2018 World Cup in Spain and two gold medals in the 2019 and 2021 FIBA AmeriCups.[29]

Awards and honors

[edit]

Career statistics

[edit]

College

[edit]

Source[40]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1989 Virginia 31 574 45.7% 35.5% 83.1% 5.1 4.6 3.3 0.3 18.5
1990 Virginia 32 574 45.2% 34.6% 78.1% 6.7 4.4 3.2 0.5 17.9
1991 Virginia 34 495 45.0% 32.4% 82.4% 6.1 6.9 3.9 0.3 14.6
1992 Virginia 34 492 48.4% 30.3% 80.8% 5.6 6.1 3.4 0.5 14.5
Career 131 2135 46.0% 33.4% 81.1% 5.9 5.6 3.5 0.4 16.3

WNBA

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career best ° League leader

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
1999 Charlotte 32 32 33.3 .415 .317 .934 2.3 5.5 1.2 0.1 2.81 11.5
2000 Charlotte 32 32 34.3 .372 .330 .878 2.4 5.9 1.2 0.0 2.84 8.8
2001 Charlotte 32 32 36.0 .381 .371 .895 2.2 5.6 1.6 0.0 3.13 9.3
2002 Charlotte 32 32 33.2 .364 .398 .762 1.8 5.1 1.5 0.0 2.50 8.7
2003 Charlotte 34 34 31.9 .417 .389 .836 1.7 5.1 1.4 0.1 2.29 7.9
2004 Charlotte 34 34 33.6 .431 .407 .759 1.7 5.0 1.3 0.1 2.18 8.9
2005* Charlotte 23 23 29.7 .405 .405 .767 2.3 5.3 1.3 0.0 1.83 6.3
2005* Houston 10 3 22.1 .357 .286 .900 1.7 2.8 0.6 0.1 1.20 3.3
2005 Totals 33 26 27.4 .396 .375 .800 2.1 4.5 1.1 0.0 1.64 5.4
2006 Houston 34 34 29.9 .420 .427 .806 2.2 3.9 1.0 0.2 2.24 7.4
Career 8 years, 2 teams 263 256 32.4 .399 .376 .824 2.0 5.1 1.3 0.1 2.44 7.5

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
1999 Charlotte 4 4 39.3 .325 .438 .833 1.3 5.8 0.8 0.0 2.75 12.0
2001 Charlotte 8 8 37.6 .416 .500 .810 2.3 4.4 1.1 0.3 4.25 11.8
2002 Charlotte 2 2 39.0 .286 .200 .500 2.5 5.0 1.5 0.0 2.00 8.5
2003 Charlotte 2 2 29.0 .353 .500 .400 2.5 3.5 2.0 0.0 2.00 9.0
2005 Houston 5 0 25.0 .462 .375 .857 0.8 2.8 1.8 0.0 1.40 4.2
2006 Houston 2 2 20.0 .143 .333 .000 2.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.00 1.5
Career 6 years, 2 teams 23 18 33.0 .366 .423 .754 1.8 4.0 1.2 0.1 2.78 8.7

Head coaching record

[edit]
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Temple Owls (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2000–2008)
2000–01 Temple 19–11 11–5 3rd WNIT First Round
2001–02 Temple 20–11 12–4 T–1st (East) NCAA First Round
2002–03 Temple 14–15 9–7 2nd (East)
2003–04 Temple 21–10 14–2 1st (East) NCAA First Round
2004–05 Temple 28–4 16–0 1st (East) NCAA Second Round
2005–06 Temple 24–8 12–4 3rd NCAA First Round
2006–07 Temple 25–8 13–1 2nd NCAA Second Round
2007–08 Temple 21–13 12–2 T–1st NCAA First Round
Temple: 172–80 (.683) 99–25 (.798)
South Carolina Gamecocks (Southeastern Conference) (2008–present)
2008–09 South Carolina 10–18 2–12 11th
2009–10 South Carolina 14–15 7–9 T–7th
2010–11 South Carolina 18–15 8–8 T–5th WNIT Second Round
2011–12 South Carolina 25–10 10–6 T–4th NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2012–13 South Carolina 25–8 11–5 T–4th NCAA Second Round
2013–14 South Carolina 29–5 14–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2014–15 South Carolina 34–3 15–1 T–1st NCAA Final Four
2015–16 South Carolina 33–2 16–0 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2016–17 South Carolina 33–4 14–2 1st NCAA Champions
2017–18 South Carolina 29–7 12–4 T–2nd NCAA Elite Eight
2018–19 South Carolina 23–10 13–3 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2019–20 South Carolina 32–1 16–0 1st Tournament canceled - COVID-19
2020–21 South Carolina 26–5 14–2 2nd NCAA Final Four
2021–22 South Carolina 35–2 15–1 1st NCAA Champions
2022–23 South Carolina 36–1 16–0 1st NCAA Final Four
2023–24 South Carolina 38–0 16–0 1st NCAA Champions
2024–25 South Carolina 0–0 0–0
South Carolina: 440–106 (.806) 199–55 (.783)
Total: 612–186 (.767)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Personal life

[edit]

Staley is a Christian and routinely thanks God after games. On Easter Sunday 2024, Staley said postgame "He is risen" referring to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.[41] After her team won the 2024 National title, Staley thanked Jesus.[42]

Staley heads the Dawn Staley Foundation, which focuses on academics and athletics and sponsors basketball leagues and other fund-raising activities.[citation needed]

Staley hosted a podcast, Netlife, produced by Just Women's Sports, beginning in January 2022.[43]

Staley owns a Havanese dog named Champ, who has his own Twitter account, and frequently visits practices.[44]

Staley is a fan of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles.[45] Throughout the 2022 NFL season, Staley was often seen wearing their jerseys while coaching the Gamecocks.[46]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Women's Basketball Coaches Career". NCAA. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  2. ^ Day, Meredith (August 6, 2021). "Team USA Women's Basketball Secures 7th Straight Gold Medal, Defeating Japan". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "South Carolina pounds UConn, 64-49, to take women's basketball championship". NBC News. Retrieved April 4, 2022 – via The Associated Press.
  4. ^ Titus, Payton (April 4, 2024). "Best of the best: South Carolina's Dawn Staley named Naismith Coach of the Year". MSN.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via The Charlotte Observer.
  5. ^ "South Carolina wins 2024 national title: Gamecocks take down Caitlin Clark, Iowa; complete undefeated season". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Glock, Allison (March 16, 2018). "For South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, the game is life and life is the game". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "286: Discipline and Mental Fortitude". Finding Mastery. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "Dawn Staley to be Honored With UVa's Distinguished Alumna Award". Virginia Sports. April 7, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  9. ^ "Division I Women's Basketball Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 3. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Second FIBA Women's U19/Junior World Championship – 1989". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  11. ^ "Fifteenth World University Games – 1993". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  12. ^ "1992 WOMEN'S R. WILLIAM JONES CUP". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  13. ^ "STING: Dawn Staley: USA Basketball Legend". WNBA.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Twelfth Pan American Games – 1995". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "Thirteenth World Championship For Women – 1998". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "Fourteenth World Championship For Women – 2002". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  17. ^ "WNBA.com: AllStar 2011". WNBA.com. Retrieved November 24, 2017.[dead link]
  18. ^ Wolken, Dan (March 14, 2016). "South Carolina's Dawn Staley emerging as new face of women's basketball". USA Today. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  19. ^ Connolly, Matt (April 2, 2017). "South Carolina wins NCAA women's national championship". thestate.com. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  20. ^ Sapakoff, Gene (June 24, 2017). "The 25 most powerful people in South Carolina sports: Dawn Staley, Dabo Swinney top list that includes Bill Murray, Darius Rucker". The Post and Courier. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  21. ^ Buckner, Candace (March 19, 2021). "Dawn Staley, another title in sight, won't stop speaking out: 'I can't not do it'". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  22. ^ "Missed kick ball call ends in Stanford fast-break bucket". ESPN. April 3, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  23. ^ Laflin, Shane and Key, Jason (November 19, 2020). "2021 women's college basketball recruiting class rankings". ESPN. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Coleman, Madeline (October 15, 2021). "Dawn Staley Receives Historic Contract Extension: 'Huge Statement For Women'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  25. ^ Guilbeau, Glenn (January 26, 2024). "South Carolina coach Dawn Staley still won't accept reality of unfounded racist claims involving BYU". Fox News. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  26. ^ Dedaj, Paulina (September 9, 2022). "BYU completes investigation into Duke player's racial slur allegations, finds no evidence to corroborate claim". Fox News. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  27. ^ "No. 1 South Carolina wins share of SEC regular-season title with 72-44 victory over Alabama". gamecocksonline.com. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "Dawn Staley To Head USA National Team Through 2020". USA Baskebtall. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  29. ^ "Dawn Staley". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  30. ^ a b "PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL". THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Sophia Young a Honda Award Finalist". Baylor University Athletics. April 10, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  32. ^ "Past Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup)". THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  33. ^ "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Virginia Guard Honored as Top Female Athlete". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 12, 1992. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  34. ^ "Former UVa Great Dawn Staley Named To Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012". Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  35. ^ "Staley to be Awarded Order of the Palmetto". GamecocksOnline.com. Retrieved November 24, 2017.[dead link]
  36. ^ "Staley Named USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year". thestate.com. December 16, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  37. ^ "DAWN STALEY NAMED 2020 UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS/WBCA NCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  38. ^ "Staley Named USA Basketball co-Coach of the Year". Gamecocks Online. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  39. ^ "South Carolina's Dawn Staley named 2022 WBCA NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year". Women's Basketball Coaches Association (Press release). March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  40. ^ "Women's Basketball Finest" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  41. ^ Hoole, Beth (April 8, 2024). "Staley praises God in post-game comments, sparking conversation". Fox Carolina. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  42. ^ Reyes, Lorenzo (April 8, 2024). "After NCAA title win, Dawn Staley spoke about her faith. It's nothing new for SC coach". USA Today. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  43. ^ Cash, Meredith (January 29, 2022). "Dawn Staley has an ambitious list of dream guests — including world leaders and TV legends — for her new podcast". Insider. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  44. ^ Cloninger, David (January 20, 2019). "Dawn Staley's dog Champ has his own legion of South Carolina fans". The Post and Courier. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  45. ^ Bell, Daryl (April 10, 2017). "Dawn Staley has always had a special relationship with Philadelphia". Andscape. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  46. ^ "Dawn Staley repped her hometown Philadelphia Eagles with an iconic jersey as South Carolina faced LSU". For The Win. February 12, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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