She’s Not Just A GOAT – Dawn Staley’s A GOAT Maker

Two years after the WNBA tipped off its inaugural season in 1997, one of the most iconic names in women’s basketball made her debut.

Dawn Staley had already become a household name for fans of women’s hoops. During her collegiate career at the University of Virginia, she led the Cavaliers to four NCAA tournaments, three Final Four appearances, and one national title game. She was named ACC Female Athlete of the Year and National Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992.

After graduation, Staley played overseas in France before returning to the U.S. to compete with the Richmond Rage in the American Basketball League. When the ABL folded, the WNBA came calling. In 1999, she was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Sting. Staley would go on to lead the Sting to a WNBA Finals appearance—but a championship eluded her as a player.

Midway through her playing career, Staley faced an unexpected turning point. While attending the Final Four in Philadelphia as a member of Team USA, she was approached by Temple University Athletic Director Dave O’Brien. Banking on her Philadelphia roots, O’Brien invited her to campus under the guise of a casual visit. Instead, she walked into a conference room where a dozen people sat waiting with one question:

“Do you see yourself as a coach?”

Staley didn’t hesitate: “No. Not at all.”

It was a fair answer. At the time, many colleagues told her it was impossible to be a head coach and an active WNBA player. O’Brien couldn’t convince her to take the leap—so he pivoted.

He issued a challenge: outline what it would take to make Temple’s program better.

That challenge sparked something in Staley. She accepted—and with it, launched a new chapter in her legacy — as head coach!

In her debut season (2000–01), she led Temple to the WNIT. A year later, she guided the Owls to an Atlantic 10 title and their first NCAA Tournament berth under her leadership. She repeated that success in 2002 and 2004.

By the 2004–05 season, Staley’s Owls were dominant. They went 28–4 overall, including a perfect 19–0 in conference play. Though they fell to Rutgers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Staley notched a milestone—becoming the fastest coach in women’s basketball history to reach 100 wins, doing so in the A-10 semifinals against Xavier.

Since then, she moved on to coaching one of NCAA’s most dominant teams, the South Carolina Gamecocks. Her résumé has grown beyond wins and championships—it reflects a lasting legacy of developing elite talent and preparing players for success at the next level.

Take Allisha Gray. A first-round pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, Gray won Rookie of the Year and became a consistent contributor for the Dallas Wings and later the Atlanta Dream. She’s now a two-time WNBA All-Star.

Then there’s A’ja Wilson, arguably the most decorated of Staley’s protégés. The No. 1 overall pick in 2018, Wilson has become the face of the league: a two-time MVP, two-time WNBA champion, and marketing powerhouse. Wilson credits Staley for shaping her into the leader she is today.

Aliyah Boston followed suit. Drafted number one overall in 2023 by the Indiana Fever, Boston made an immediate impact—earning Rookie of the Year and helping rejuvenate a struggling franchise. 

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And the list goes on. In fact, Staley has had at least one player selected in nine of the last 11 WNBA Drafts—including 11 first-round picks. Her ability to mold talent that thrives at the professional level is unmatched.

Dawn Staley isn’t just a GOAT.

She’s a GOAT maker.