Dawn Staley Opens Up About Her New Book, Upbringing, and Fight for Equity
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley joined CBS Mornings on Thursday to promote her new book Uncommon Favor. During the interview, she reflected on her childhood in North Philadelphia, the powerful role of her late mother, Estelle, and how those early experiences continue to shape her career and outlook on life.
Staley admitted that as a young athlete, she felt uneasy about college recruiters visiting her home. Her mother, however, offered advice that stayed with her through the years.
“Never be ashamed of where you come from because you can inspire others to achieve, to do things they didn’t think that they could do,” Estelle had told her.
Staley clarified that her uneasiness wasn’t about embarrassment but rather about protecting her neighborhood and honoring its importance to her identity.
“I thought where I grew up was sacred,” she explained. “From the outside, people probably saw an impoverished community. But to me, it was the grandest.”
She spoke fondly of her community’s protective spirit, noting how neighbors looked out for those with special potential.
“They take care of you. They protect you. They make sure you are not doing the things you’re not supposed to be doing.”
Staley also revealed that her mother may have misunderstood her hesitation with recruiters as shame, when in reality it was concern for their safety.
“I actually didn’t want anything to happen to [the recruiters] either because they were strangers to the neighborhood,” she said.
Today, Staley stands as one of the most influential figures in women’s basketball. With an estimated net worth of $12 million and a landmark contract paying her a base salary of $4.25 million annually, she is currently the highest-paid coach in the sport. She has led South Carolina to three NCAA championships, cementing her status as a trailblazer.
Staley on Justice, Equity, and Speaking Up
In Uncommon Favor, Staley also opens up about moments when social justice, equity, and pay equality were at the forefront of her coaching journey.
On CBS, she emphasized the importance of addressing these issues directly.
“These conversations aren’t being had,” she said. “I was blessed by pay equity—not given, I fought for it.”
For Staley, the message is clear: know your worth and be unafraid to stand up for it.
“Sometimes you have to do the unpopular right thing,” she added, crediting the University of South Carolina for supporting her when it mattered.
Although the Gamecocks fell short in last season’s NCAA championship game against UConn, Staley remains focused on the future. With new talent joining the roster, South Carolina will once again chase the ultimate prize under the leadership of a coach who has never stopped fighting—for her players, for her community, and for equity in sports.
