"Guys seem to be born with basketball skills. Girls have to work to develop those..": When Dawn Staley gave a smart solution to women's harsh reality

Dawn Staley has cemented her legacy as a basketball legend but before reaching this elite status, she faced her own challenges. From sexism on the playground as a teenager to living in a rough neighborhood, Staley has gone through it all. Her grit and resolve have become a standard of excellence for many girls and women look to emulate.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated as a 20-year-old in 1990, Staley spoke about the challenges that a woman faces differently in the world of basketball.

"My advice to girls is to play against the guys, that gave me the heart to play against anybody. I'm glad they were rough. Guys seem to be born with basketball skills. Girls have to work to develop these skills. I don't know why. I do know basketball is my only fun. Nothing else ever interested me."

Staley was not saying women cannot do what men can, only suggesting they may have had to work harder to attain the same level of skills.

Dawn Staley shouting instructions from the sideline as UCLA ends South Carolina's 43 game win streak. {NCAA Womens Basketball: South Carolina at UCLA - Source: Imagn}

Several challenges Dawn Staley faced in her career

Brought up in the projects of northern Philadelphia, Staley embraces challenges in her career. In a Rising Coaches blog titled "Challenge Accepted" , she admitted as much.

"I never wanted to be a coach. That is one thing. But when it was posed to me as a challenge, I am drawn to challenges. I’ve been that way my whole life."

She coached the Temple Owls women's basketball team despite also being an active player in the WNBA. According to her letter in the Players' Tribune, she was drawn to the challenge of turning around a struggling basketball program despite having a long playing career ahead of her.

Even when her health caused a hindrance in her daily activities, Staley never gave up on basketball. In an interview with ESPNW, Coach Staley revealed she suffered from pericarditis during South Carolina's 2016-17 NCAA championship run.

Dawn Staley, A'ja Wilson, and the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate their 2016-17 NCAA championship win vs Mississippi State (NCAA Women's Basketball: Women's Final Four-Mississippi State vs South Carolina - Source: Imagn)