Dawn Staley's Success and Achievements in Timeline

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

Dawn Staley is a highly accomplished American basketball coach and former player. As a point guard, she starred at the University of Virginia and in the WNBA. Staley achieved remarkable success with the United States women's national basketball team, securing three Olympic gold medals as a player and later coaching the team to another gold in 2021. Currently the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, she is celebrated as one of the greatest coaches in women's basketball history and is the only individual to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach.

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 Won 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 a gold medal.

1991: ACC Female Athlete of the Year 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: Jones Cup Gold Medal

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

1992: End of College Career at Virginia

In 1992, Dawn Staley concluded her college basketball career with Virginia, having set the NCAA record for steals, the school record for points, and the ACC record for assists.

1992: Named National Player of the Year

In 1992, Dawn Staley was named the national player of the year for the second year in a row.

1994: World Championships and 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: Atlanta Summer Olympics Gold Medal

In 1996, Dawn Staley led Team USA to an undefeated record of 60–0 and won the gold medal at the Atlanta Summer Olympics.

1996: Olympic Gold Medal

In 1996, Dawn Staley won a gold medal at the Olympic Games as a member of the United States women's national basketball team.

August 1998: FIBA World Championships Gold Medal

In July and August 1998, Dawn Staley traveled to Berlin, Germany for the FIBA World Championships as part of the United States national team, where they won the gold medal against Russia, with Staley sealing the victory by hitting free throws in the final seconds. Staley averaged 7.0 points per game and made a record 52 assists.

1999: Carolyn Peck's 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 the gold medal.

2001: WNBA All-Star Selection

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

2002: World Championships Gold Medal

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

2002: Atlantic 10 Tournament Win

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

2004: Owls Season and NCAA Tournament

During the 2004-05 season, Dawn Staley's Owls went 28-4, including a perfect 19-0 against Atlantic 10 opponents, but lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Rutgers University. Staley also reached the 100-win plateau in the A-10 semifinals vs Xavier University, becoming the fastest coach in women's basketball to achieve that feat.

2004: Olympic Gold Medal and Flag Bearer

In 2004, Dawn Staley won a third gold medal with Team USA at the Athens Olympics and was named the 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete Of The Year, also serving as the flag bearer for the United States during the opening ceremony.

2004: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2004, Dawn Staley won another gold medal at the Olympic Games as a player for the United States women's national basketball team.

2004: Atlantic 10 Tournament Win

In 2004, Dawn Staley's Temple team won the Atlantic 10 tournament for another year, qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

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.

2008: Assistant Coach at Beijing Olympics

During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach under Anne Donovan and helped Team USA win their fourth straight 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: 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.

2014: Coaching the U17 Team

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

2014: First Final Four Appearance

In 2014-15 season, Dawn Staley led South Carolina to the program's first number 1 ranking and Final Four appearance.

2015: Coaching the U19 Team

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 it with Sean Miller.

2016: Assistant Coach at Rio Olympics

In 2016, Dawn Staley served as an assistant coach under Geno Auriemma for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, helping Team USA win their sixth straight gold medal in women's basketball.

2016: SEC Champions

In the 2016-17 season, 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.

2018: Team USA wins the World Cup

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

2019: Team USA wins the FIBA AmeriCups

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

2020: Gold Medal as Team USA Head Coach

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Dawn Staley achieved her first gold medal as the Head coach of Team USA, winning all six games and extending her record to 45–0.

2020: Successful Season and 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, finishing #1 in both major polls before the NCAA tournament was cancelled. She also 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: Team USA wins the FIBA AmeriCups

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

2021: Olympic Gold Medal as Head Coach

In 2021, Dawn Staley won an Olympic gold medal as the head coach of the United States women's national basketball team.

2022: Gamecocks win National Championship

In 2022, Dawn Staley's Gamecocks, ranked #1 throughout the 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 was named Naismith Award winner and coached the National Player of the Year, Aliyah Boston.

February 22, 2024: Staley wins her 600th game

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

2024: Perfect Season

In 2024, Dawn Staley led South Carolina to a perfect season, winning another national championship.

2024: Perfect Season and National Title

In 2024, Dawn Staley led her team to an undefeated 38-0 season, securing their third national title. Staley also received her fourth Naismith Coach of the Year Award.