Dawn Staley continues to dominate headlines this spring—not just for her coaching prowess but also for her cultural impact both on and off the court. Fresh off leading her team to another NCAA Tournament title game, the South Carolina Gamecocks head coach has been at the center of a wave of recognition and celebration.
In a major gesture of appreciation, the Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, officially declared May as “Dawn Staley Month”, honoring her extraordinary influence on the community and her contributions to women’s basketball. While accepting this honor, Staley is also managing a packed schedule that includes a nationwide book tour and active recruitment through the NCAA transfer portal to shape her 2025–26 roster.
In the latest sign of her enduring impact, Staley appears in a promotional video for her former superstar A’ja Wilson, who is launching her first signature shoe with Nike, titled “The A’One.” The video, which features catchy visuals and heartfelt nostalgia, shows Staley dancing and hyping up Wilson—highlighting their deep bond that’s lasted well beyond their championship days.
At just 28 years old, A’ja Wilson has already cemented herself as a legend in the sport. A three-time WNBA MVP, she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 NCAA Tournament and went on to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She has remained with the Aces since, becoming a six-time WNBA All-Star with career averages of 21.1 points and 9.2 rebounds across 227 games.
Speaking about her long-awaited shoe debut, Wilson said in February:
“My signature shoe is everything I need, engineered for my game and my style — and built to motivate the next generation to go big.”
Though Wilson couldn’t attend the official “Dawn Staley Month” proclamation in Columbia due to WNBA training camp, she made sure to show love to her former coach on social media.
“It’s amazing. I hate that I’m missing it, but obviously I know she would cuss me out if I was there, not at training camp,” Wilson joked with affection.
The Las Vegas Aces are set to begin their 2025 WNBA season on May 17 with a marquee road matchup against the New York Liberty, followed by their home opener on May 23 against the Washington Mystics.
From city proclamations to national commercials, Dawn Staley and A’ja Wilson continue to lead—not just teams, but a movement in women’s basketball.
