Dawn Staley Praises Leadership of Aliyah Boston and Victaria Saxton Ahead of 2022 Title Run
Before South Carolina’s 2022 national championship win, head coach Dawn Staley publicly praised the leadership and maturity of two of her standout players: Aliyah Boston and Victaria Saxton. The duo was instrumental in the Gamecocks’ run to the title, which they secured by defeating UConn in the NCAA championship game.
In the days leading up to March Madness, Staley appeared on the “NETLIFE” podcast with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Reggie Love. During the conversation, she highlighted what sets South Carolina apart—particularly in the way her players lead and carry themselves both on and off the court.
“We’ve been fortunate to have a really responsible team. We have great leadership,” Staley said. “Victaria Saxton and Aliyah Boston are both young women who, if they were not captains of our basketball team, they could be CEOs of Fortune 500 companies because they get it, they see the big picture.
“They’re unafraid to address anything that doesn’t seem appropriate for whatever the situation calls for, so I really love that about them… they make my job a lot easier because of how they lead.”
Staley, whose estimated net worth is $12 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, has built a legacy of developing strong leaders. Her program has produced stars like A’ja Wilson, Allisha Gray, Tyasha Harris, and Kamilla Cardoso—each playing vital roles in South Carolina’s championship runs.
Aliyah Boston, now a star with the Indiana Fever and the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, often credits Staley with shaping her into the confident leader she is today.
In a January appearance on the “In Case You Missed It” podcast, Boston spoke about Staley’s recent contract extension, which keeps her at South Carolina through 2030 and makes her the highest-paid women’s basketball coach in the country.
“First and foremost, it is so deserving for Coach Staley,” Boston said. “No one else deserves to have that type of recognition, because she is just so amazing. I feel like I’ve said this so many times, that Coach Staley is like a second mom to me.”
Boston added, “It just goes to show the confidence that she instills in you from such a young age. Like, she is not waiting for senior year or junior year… You just have to be able to step into that role and embrace it.”
Staley’s ability to develop players into winners and leaders has remained a hallmark of her program—and Boston’s rapid rise in the WNBA is just the latest example of her impact.
