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 player, she excelled as a point guard for the Virginia Cavaliers and in the WNBA, primarily with the Charlotte Sting. She also achieved significant success on the United States women's national basketball team, securing three Olympic gold medals. Transitioning to coaching, she currently leads the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team and coached the U.S. women's national team to another Olympic gold in 2021. Staley is the only individual to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach, marking her exceptional contributions to the sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

July 1991: World University Games Gold Medal

In July 1991, Dawn Staley represented the United States at the World University Games held in Sheffield, England, and won a gold medal with the team. She averaged 4.9 points per game during the tournament.

1991: ACC Female Athlete of the Year

In 1991, Dawn Staley was named the ACC female athlete of the year, acknowledging her athletic achievements.

1992: Jones Cup Gold Medal

In 1992, Dawn Staley competed with USA Basketball as a member of the Jones Cup Team, winning the Gold in Taipei.

1992: College Career Ends

In 1992, Dawn Staley concluded her college basketball career at the University of Virginia. During her time there, she set the NCAA record for steals, a school record for points, and an ACC record for assists.

1992: National Player of the Year

In 1992, Dawn Staley was named the national player of the year for her outstanding performance in college basketball.

1994: USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year

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

1996: Olympic Gold Medal in Atlanta

In 1996, Dawn Staley led the USA team to an undefeated record and won the gold medal at the Atlanta Summer Olympics.

August 1998: FIBA World Championships Gold Medal

In August 1998, Dawn Staley participated in the FIBA World Championships in Berlin, Germany, where Team USA won the gold medal after defeating Russia in the final game. Staley averaged 7.0 points per game and made a record 52 assists.

1999: Carolyn Peck Wins National Championship

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

2000: Olympic Gold Medal

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

2001: First WNBA All-Star Selection

In 2001, Dawn Staley received the first of six consecutive WNBA All-Star selections, marking a significant achievement in her professional career.

2002: World Championships Gold Medal

In 2002, Dawn Staley was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in China, where the team won all nine games, including the title game against Russia. Staley scored 4.9 points per game and recorded a team-high 24 assists.

2004: Third Olympic Gold Medal

In 2004, Dawn Staley won her third gold medal at the Olympic Games as part of the United States women's national basketball team.

2004: Third Olympic Gold Medal and Flag Bearer

In 2004, Dawn Staley won her third gold medal with Team USA at the Athens Olympics and was also selected to carry the flag of the United States during the opening ceremony. She was later named 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete Of The Year.

2004: Owls' Season and Coaching Milestone

In the 2004-05 season, Dawn Staley's Temple Owls went 28-4. She reached the 100-win plateau in the A-10 semifinals vs Xavier University that season, becoming the fastest coach in women's basketball to achieve that feat.

2007: Coaching Team USA to Gold at Pan Am Games

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

2011: Top 15 in WNBA History

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

2012: Inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

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

2013: Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2013, Dawn Staley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, solidifying her legacy in the sport.

2014: Head Coach U17 Team

In 2014, Dawn Staley served as head coach to the U17 Team and won a gold medal at the U18 Americas Championship.

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

In 2015, Dawn Staley served as head coach to the U19 Team and won a gold medal at the U19 FIBA World Championship. As a result, the USA basketball organization awarded her the national coach of the year award, sharing it with Sean Miller.

2016: SEC Champions

In 2016-17, 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: National Championship Win

In 2017, Dawn Staley coached the South Carolina Gamecocks to their first national title, defeating Mississippi State in the championship game. She became the second African American to lead a women's basketball team to a national championship.

2018: Gold Medal at 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 FIBA AmeriCup

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

2020: Gold Medal at Summer Olympics

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Dawn Staley secured her first gold medal as the Head coach of Team USA, achieving a perfect 6-0 record and extending her overall record to 45-0.

2020: National Coach of the Year Awards

In 2020, Dawn Staley led the Gamecocks to a 32-1 season, winning the SEC regular season and tournament championship, and finished #1 in both major polls. Staley swept the national coach of the year awards, becoming the first person to win the Naismith award as a player and as a coach.

2021: Gold Medal at FIBA AmeriCup

In 2021, Dawn Staley again coached Team USA to a gold medal in the FIBA AmeriCup, continuing her streak of international success.

2021: Olympic Gold Medal as Head Coach

In 2021, Dawn Staley served as the head coach of the United States women's national basketball team, leading them to win an Olympic gold medal.

2022: Gamecocks Win National Championship

In 2022, Dawn Staley's Gamecocks, ranked #1 in both polls for the entire season, defeated 14 ranked teams and won the NCAA tournament, securing their second national championship by defeating UConn. Staley became the first coach to defeat Geno Auriemma, Tara VanDerveer, and Kim Mulkey in the same season. She also received the Naismith Award and coached the National Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston.

February 22, 2024: Staley Wins 600th Game

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

2024: Perfect Season and National Championship

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

2024: Gamecocks Achieve Perfect Season and Third National Title

In 2024, Dawn Staley led her team to a perfect 38–0 season, securing their third national title. Staley also received her fourth Naismith Coach of the Year Award in 2024.