Dawn Staley

Dawn Michelle Staley has built the most dominant dynasty in women's college basketball as head coach at the University of South Carolina, winning three NCAA championships and establishing the Gamecocks as the standard by which every program is measured. Before she was a coaching legend, she was one of the greatest point guards in basketball history — a three-time Olympic gold medalist who carried the American flag at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Born in Philadelphia in 1970, Staley grew up playing basketball on the outdoor courts of North Philly, where she developed the toughness, court vision, and competitive drive that would define her career. She starred at the University of Virginia, was a six-time WNBA All-Star with the Charlotte Sting and Houston Comets, and represented the United States in three consecutive Olympic Games.

Staley took over a struggling South Carolina program in 2008 and built it into a juggernaut through elite recruiting, player development, and a defensive intensity that reflects her Philly roots. Her 2024 championship team went 38-0 — a perfect season — and she was named AP Coach of the Year for the fourth time. She is also the head coach of the U.S. women's national team, carrying the same standard of excellence to the international stage.