"She never allowed me to be comfortable": Dawn Staley recalls special bond with Virginia HC Debbie Ryan

Dawn Staley spent four years with the Virginia Cavaliers from 1988 to 1992. During this time, she led the team to three Final Fours and one national championship game. For two years in a row, in 1991 and '92, Staley was named the Naismith, WBCA, USBWA and ACC College Player of the Year.

Staley looked back at her time with the Cavaliers for a new series, "Our Place," with Virginia Sports TV. In the premiere posted on YouTube on Monday, she spoke of her relationship with her coach, Debbie Ryan.

"Debbie was the perfect coach for me," Staley said (Timestamp: 1:30). "One, I mean, she put the time in with me, and she made an impression. Two, once I went to, once I got onto the grounds of UVA, she never allowed me to be comfortable. I grew as a person, (and) as a basketball player."

After her time with the Cavaliers, Dawn Staley went on to play in the WNBA and became a three-time Olympic gold medalist. While still playing in the league, Staley also became a coach, first at Temple University and later with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Having seen the rise of women's basketball from then to its highest point now, where it has enjoyed its most attention, Staley spoke of building on it and changing the existing narratives.

"For women's basketball, I've seen where we've come from, but now we're at a place where we are valued a little bit differently," Staley said (Timestamp: 2:52). "We're in high demand. ... And if you're not willing to speak up on the disparities, we're not going to advance our game.

"I speak up for the voiceless. I speak up for not just the present but also the future. It's our job to make sure that that we're not sitting here 10 years from now in the same place."

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Dawn Staley's South Carolina drop in ranks after starting at the top

After winning the 2024 national championship with an undefeated season, Dawn Staley and her Gamecocks began their 2024-25 season at the top of the rankings. While South Carolina started the season on a great note and has beaten four ranked teams, it has lost one game, falling 77-62 at then-No. 5 UCLA.

With an 11-1 record, the Gamecocks are now in the second spot. The team returns to action on Sunday against Wofford.