Dawn Staley is a trailblazer in two arenas, breaking glass ceilings in both collegiate and professional women’s basketball. 

In 2000, Staley accepted the position of head women’s basketball coach at Temple University while concurrently playing for the Charlotte Sting. During her eight-year tenure at Temple, she balanced professional playing and coaching responsibilities, earning five WNBA All-Star selections as a point guard. Under her leadership, Temple won four Atlantic 10 conference tournament titles and made six NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Dawn Staley #5 of the Charlotte Sting directs the defense against the Houston Comets on June 3, 2002

Staley transitioned to the University of South Carolina in 2008. Since her arrival, the program has won three NCAA National Championships (2017, 2022, and 2024). Her 2023–2024 team completed the season with a 38-0 record, becoming one of the few programs in Division I history to finish a season undefeated. As of 2024, her coaching record at South Carolina includes multiple SEC regular-season and tournament championships. 

In addition to her collegiate and WNBA career, Staley has a documented history with USA Basketball. She won three Olympic gold medals as a player (1996, 2000, 2004) and served as the head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the team secured a Gold medal. She is the first person in USA Basketball history to win an Olympic gold medal as both a player and a Head Coach.