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South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley is also a WNBA legend and a trailblazer for women's basketball. When she was still in eighth grade, she was already regarded as a basketball prodigy who would "save" women's basketball.
Staley has since become one of the most notable players in the history of women's basketball, as journalist Lachelle Smith pointed out on Instagram:
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In the video, Smith featured an article from 'The Philadelphia Tribune's Herm Rogul during Dawn Staley's high school days in 1985. This article shows that many in the local Philadelphia basketball scene were predicting that the then-eighth grader would make it big in the sport.
These experts, including one of Philadelphia's most influential basketball figures at that time, Sonny Hill, acknowledged the significance of Staley as a future star. This was a time before the WNBA and way before the surge in popularity women's basketball is enjoying today.
"Dawn may be the girl who saves the sport," said Sonny Hill.
In his article, Rogul noted that Staley was already being described as a genuine point guard at eighth grade, with many not believing she was still at junior high school at the time.
This was foreshadowing what is happening right now, with the popularity of the likes of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese booming, and more people watching women's basketball.
In another 'The Philadelphia Tribune' article, this time by Burnett Wright in 1987, an opposing coach was quoted as describing Dawn Staley's play as a "work of art." That coach was Allison Eachus, who coached William Penn High School at that time. She was also asked what do they do to stop Dawn Staley.
"You go to church," she told the newspaper. "You Pray."
When she finally reached high school, Dawn Staley played at Murrell Dobbins Vocational High School in Philadelphia. There, she was named the National High School Player of the Year during her senior year.
She only lost one game during her three years in high school, winning three Philadelphia public high school city championships and averaging 33.1 points per game.
Dawn Staley: From prodigy to legendary college coach
A lot of predictions about her came true, as she became one of the most successful girls' basketball players in high school during the 80s. She then made her way to the University of Virginia, where she led her team to four straight NCAA tournaments.
This includes three final four appearances and making it to the national championship game.
She was the UVA's all-time leading scorer at that time, as well as the all-time leader in assists for the ACC, with 279. Because the WNBA was not a thing yet after her graduation, she played professional basketball overseas, in countries such as France, Italy, and Spain, and then the ABL.
In 1999, she was finally drafted into the WNBA by the Charlotte Sting and became a six-time WNBA All-Star. She was also voted as one of the 15 greatest WNBA players in history.
After she retired as a player, she started coaching, first the Temple Owls from 2000-2008, before eventually going to the South Carolina Gamecocks. It was here that she became one of the most revered women's basketball coaches.
