Dawn Staley, the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team, made history on Sunday by becoming the first Black coach, male or female, to win three Division I basketball titles.
This achievement came after her team’s 87-75 victory over the University of Iowa in the NCAA Championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
A Historic Accomplishment
With this latest championship, Staley joins an elite group of coaches who have won at least three national titles. However, she is the first Black coach to reach this milestone. Prior to Sunday’s win, the four programs in women’s college basketball that had completed undefeated seasons were Baylor, UConn, Tennessee, and Texas.
South Carolina is now the 10th team to achieve this feat, with six of those undefeated seasons belonging to UConn under coach Geno Auriemma.
Staley’s success has been recognized beyond the NCAA Championship as well. Ahead of the Final Four, she was named the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year for the fourth time in five years, a testament to her consistent excellence. This was also her third straight year winning the award.
Celebrating Black Excellence in Sports Media
During the championship weekend, Staley also celebrated the representation of Black women in the sports media industry.
When former South Carolina player Aliyah Boston joined the ESPN broadcasting crew for the Final Four, Staley and others recognized the significance of having five Black women at the desk for the biggest games in college basketball history.
“Black women holding it down,” Staley said. “Holding it down, taking it to another level, and it’s quite remarkable.”
Staley’s Sentimental Approach to Celebrating Victories
Staley’s approach to celebrating her victories has been marked by a deep sense of gratitude and a desire to share her success with others.
In 2017, when she won her first title, Staley cut off a piece of the net to give to Carolyn Peck, who was the first Black woman to win a championship. Peck, in turn, gave Staley a piece of the net from her own title win with Purdue in 1999.
Similarly, when Staley’s South Carolina team beat UConn in 2022, she cut off part of the net herself and wrapped it around her neck as she danced to “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige.
Now, with her third title, Staley plans to take the net and split it up to send to Black male coaches of women’s basketball teams, as well as Black college basketball journalists – two groups she says are underrepresented.
Staley’s Emotional Response to Historic Achievement
During a TV broadcast interview following the championship win, Staley was overcome with emotion and expressed her gratitude for her team’s accomplishments.
“We serve an unbelievable God,” she said. “Uncommon favor. So blessed.”
