Dawn Staley's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Dawn Staley.

Dawn Staley is an accomplished American basketball coach and former player. As a point guard, she starred at the University of Virginia and in the WNBA. Staley won three Olympic gold medals as a player and later coached the U.S. women's national team to Olympic gold in 2021. Currently, she is the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team. Staley is also notable for being the only person to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach, highlighting her exceptional contributions to the sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1983: USA won Gold in World University Games

In 1983, the American team had won gold in the World University Games.

1985: USA finished with Silver in World University Games

In 1985, the American team finished with the silver in the World University Games.

July 1991: World University Games

In July 1991, Dawn Staley represented the United States at the World University Games held in Sheffield, England, where the team won the gold medal.

1991: ACC Female Athlete and National Player of the Year

In 1991, Dawn Staley was named the ACC female athlete of the year and the national player of the year.

1992: College Career Ends

In 1992, Dawn Staley concluded her college basketball career at Virginia, setting NCAA records for steals and school records for points.

1992: Repeat as ACC Female Athlete and National Player of the Year

In 1992, Dawn Staley was again named the ACC female athlete of the year and the national player of the year.

1992: Jones Cup Gold Medal

In 1992, Dawn Staley won a gold medal with the USA Basketball team at the Jones Cup in Taipei.

1994: World Championships

In 1994, Dawn Staley competed in the World Championships with Team USA and was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year.

1996: Atlanta Summer Olympics Gold Medal

In 1996, Dawn Staley led the USA team to an undefeated record of 8-0 and a gold medal at the Atlanta Summer Olympics.

1996: Olympic Gold Medal Win

In 1996, Dawn Staley won her first Olympic gold medal as a player for the United States women's national basketball team.

August 1998: FIBA World Championships Gold Medal

In August 1998, Dawn Staley won a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA World Championships in Berlin, Germany, contributing a record 52 assists during the tournament.

1999: Carolyn Peck Coached Purdue

In 1999, Carolyn Peck coached Purdue to the national championship.

2000: Sydney Olympics Gold Medal

In 2000, Dawn Staley was a member of the Olympic team that defended their gold medal in Sydney.

2001: WNBA All-Star Selection

In 2001, Dawn Staley received the first of six consecutive WNBA All-Star selections as a member of the Charlotte Sting.

2002: World Championships Gold Medal

In 2002, Dawn Staley won a gold medal with the national team at the World Championships in China, recording a team-high 24 assists.

2002: Temple Wins Atlantic 10 Tournament

In 2002, Dawn Staley's Temple Owls won the Atlantic 10 tournament, qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

2004: Third Olympic Gold Medal and USA Basketball Athlete of the Year

In 2004, Dawn Staley won her third Olympic gold medal with Team USA in Athens and was subsequently named the 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete Of The Year. She also carried the flag of the United States during the parade of nations at the opening ceremony.

2004: Third Olympic Gold Medal

In 2004, Dawn Staley won her third gold medal at the Olympic Games.

2004: Temple Wins Atlantic 10 Tournament

In 2004, Dawn Staley's Temple Owls won the Atlantic 10 tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament.

2006: Final WNBA Season

2006 marked Dawn Staley's final season in the WNBA, during which she received her sixth consecutive WNBA All-Star selection.

2007: Coaching Team USA to Gold at the Pan Am Games

In 2007, Dawn Staley coached Team USA to a gold medal at the Pan Am Games.

2008: Assistant Coach for Team USA at the Beijing Olympics

In 2008, Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach under Anne Donovan for Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, where the team won their fourth consecutive gold medal in women's basketball.

2011: Top 15 WNBA Players

In 2011, Dawn Staley was voted by fans as one of the top 15 players in the 15-year history of the WNBA.

2012: Induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2012, Dawn Staley was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

2013: Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2013, Dawn Staley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

2014: Head Coach of U17 Team

In 2014, Dawn Staley served as head coach to the U17 Team, winning gold medals at the U18 Americas Championship.

2015: Head Coach of U19 Team and National Coach of the Year

In 2015, Dawn Staley served as head coach to the U19 Team, winning gold medals at the U19 FIBA World Championship. She was also awarded the national coach of the year award by the USA basketball organization as a result of the U19 gold medal, sharing the award with Sean Miller.

2016: Assistant Coach for Team USA at the Rio Olympics

In 2016, Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach under Geno Auriemma for Team USA at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where the team secured their sixth consecutive gold medal in women's basketball.

2016: Gamecocks Repeated as SEC Champions

In 2016, the Gamecocks repeated as SEC regular-season and tournament champions for the third year in a row, and advanced to the second Final Four in school history.

2017: First NCAA National Championship

In 2017, Dawn Staley led South Carolina to its first NCAA women's basketball national championship.

2017: Won First National Title

In 2017, South Carolina, coached by Dawn Staley, defeated Mississippi State in the national championship game to win their first national title.

2018: Gold Medal at the World Cup in Spain

In 2018, Dawn Staley coached Team USA to a gold medal in the World Cup held in Spain.

2019: Gold Medal at the FIBA AmeriCup

In 2019, Dawn Staley coached Team USA to a gold medal in the FIBA AmeriCup.

2020: Gold Medal as Head Coach at the Tokyo Olympics

At the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021), Dawn Staley achieved her first gold medal as the Head coach for Team USA, winning all six games and extending her record to 45-0.

2020: Swept National Coach of the Year Awards

In 2020, Dawn Staley led the Gamecocks to a 32-1 season and swept the national coach of the year awards, becoming the first person to win the Naismith award as both a player and coach.

2021: Gold Medal at the FIBA AmeriCup

In 2021, Dawn Staley coached Team USA to a gold medal in the FIBA AmeriCup.

2021: Olympic Gold Medal as Head Coach

In 2021, Dawn Staley coached the United States women's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal.

2022: Gamecocks Dominate and Win National Championship

In 2022, Dawn Staley's Gamecocks were ranked #1 in both polls for the entire season. They defeated 14 ranked teams, including Stanford, UConn, NC State, Oregon, Maryland, Duke, LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia. In the NCAA tournament, the Gamecocks triumphed over Howard, Miami, North Carolina, Creighton, Louisville, and UConn to secure their second national championship. Staley became the first coach to defeat Geno Auriemma, Tara VanDerveer, and Kim Mulkey in the same season, and she was named Naismith Award winner while coaching the National Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston.

February 22, 2024: Staley Achieves 600th Career Win

On February 22, 2024, Dawn Staley reached her 600th career win in 786 games, with 534 of those wins achieved while coaching at South Carolina.

2024: Perfect Season

In 2024, Dawn Staley coached South Carolina to a perfect season and an NCAA women's basketball national championship.

2024: Perfect Season and National Title

In 2024, Dawn Staley guided her team to an undefeated 38-0 season, securing their third national title. Additionally, Staley was honored with her fourth Naismith Coach of the Year Award.