Dawn Staley is known for turning the sideline into a runway. Gucci tracksuits, Louis Vuitton graphics, Balenciaga — her designer wardrobe has become as much a part of her brand as her coaching record. But amid all the fashion, one accessory stands apart, and it has nothing to do with luxury labels.
Since 2023, Staley has worn handmade beaded necklaces to every game. The story behind them is more powerful than any outfit she’s ever put together.
A Bond Built at a Children’s Hospital
The necklaces trace back to Blakeleigh Thompson, a childhood cancer patient Staley met at Virginia’s Children’s Hospital in Charlottesville through her partnership with Aflac. For Staley — herself a Virginia legend — the visit was personal from the start. When she and Blakeleigh sat down together during that first meeting, they made necklaces by hand.
What began as a simple craft project became something neither of them expected: a lasting friendship that has played out, remarkably, on the biggest stages in women’s basketball.
A Courtside Presence That Reframes Everything
In March 2024, during the NCAA Tournament, Thompson surprised Staley live on ESPN with a new necklace — a moment that stopped the basketball world and put the relationship on full display. Staley explained then what wearing it means to her.
“What we do is coach this game or play this game or just love up on this game that we love when so many other people are going through much more deeper things than us, and they have a much better outlook on it,” she said. “I just feel forever indebted that (Thompson’s family) allowed me a small part of their life, which changes my life.”
It’s a striking admission from one of the most decorated coaches in the sport — that a child fighting cancer has given her more perspective than any championship ever could.
Thompson showed up again before the Elite Eight in 2025, and once more before South Carolina’s Final Four matchup with Texas in Tampa, gifting Staley a third necklace. Each appearance reaffirmed that this wasn’t a one-time gesture — it was a genuine bond growing in real time.
The Bell
The most meaningful moment came in July 2025, when a then-7-year-old Blakeleigh Thompson rang the bell signaling the end of her cancer treatment. Staley was there in person to witness it.
That moment recontextualizes everything — the necklaces, the sideline appearances, the public friendship. What started as a hospital visit became a years-long relationship that carried both of them through some of their hardest and most triumphant moments simultaneously.
As Staley and the No. 1 seed Gamecocks prepare to face Oklahoma in Sacramento, expect the designer outfit to draw attention. But look closer at the necklace. That’s where the real story is.
