Dawn Staley’s squad has achieved an unparalleled level of dominance in women’s basketball. The unbeaten team has proven to overcome every obstacle in its path.
The Gamecocks have won an astounding 109 games and lost just three in three seasons. Their latest victory at the NCAA national championships in Cleveland, Ohio was a testament to the indomitable spirit and hard work that defines this team.
This third national title under Staley’s leadership inspires all aspiring athletes and coaches and cements her as one of the greatest coaches in women’s college basketball history.
“…it’s a heavy load to be undefeated, to finish the job.”
The magnitude of the moment seemed to dawn on Staley as the confetti rained down on her team after another successful season, breaking down in tears as her championship-winning squad celebrated reaching the mountain top yet again.
Moreover, on and off the court, Staley has been a consistent advocate for others, including HBCUs. As we celebrate Dawn Staley’s historic championship win, we take a look back on 5 times Staley stepped for HBCUs.
1. Coach Staley On Playing HBCU Teams
In December 2023, while speaking at a postgame news conference after South Carolina’s 104-38 victory at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, Staley discussed why she regularly schedules teams from the MEAC, a smaller Division I conference made up of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. For Staley, the reasons were deeply personal, based on her history and previous coaching experience.
“When I was at Temple, we couldn’t get a top team to play us besides Rutgers and Tennessee,” Staley said. “Those were the only two coaches who really gave us an opportunity. It hurt them more than it hurt us. We were an up-and-coming program. We could challenge you. We could challenge the top teams in the country. It didn’t make sense for them, so a lot of them said ‘No.’
“But I’ll always remember what coach Vivian Stringer and coach Pat Summitt did for us and giving us an opportunity to measure ourselves against some of the best, most legendary coaches. It allowed me to grow as a coach. It allowed our program to grow at Temple University. It’s scary, too. I always try to schedule people who are elevating or trying to elevate their program and move their program in the right direction.”
