South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley continues to earn respect far beyond the court. In a recent survey conducted by The Athletic, Staley was ranked the No. 2 most admired leader in sports, a powerful reflection of her influence, authenticity, and lasting impact across athletics.
The article, published Jan. 15, was based on responses from 116 participants surveyed during October and November, with voters asked to identify leaders they admire most in today’s sports world. Staley finished second overall among 40 honorees, trailing only Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and finishing just ahead of NBA superstar Stephen Curry.
What made the recognition stand out wasn’t just the ranking — it was why people admire her.
Former UCLA softball coach Sue Enquist summed up Staley’s leadership style in one of the article’s featured quotes:
“She teaches you how to hover above the noise, have fun and grow. She is a truth teller.”
That philosophy has defined Staley’s 18-year tenure at South Carolina, where she has transformed the Gamecocks into a national powerhouse. Entering Thursday night’s matchup against No. 4 Texas, South Carolina sits at 17-1 overall and 4-0 in SEC play, firmly positioned among the nation’s elite.
Since 2017, Staley has delivered three national championships, seven Final Four appearances in the last 10 seasons, and is chasing a sixth straight Final Four this postseason. Her consistency is just as impressive: nine 30-win seasons, including an undefeated 2023–24 campaign that ended with another national title.
Beyond wins, Staley’s legacy is deeply rooted in player development. Under her leadership, South Carolina has produced 18 WNBA Draft selections, including two No. 1 overall picks. The first was A’ja Wilson in 2018 — now a four-time WNBA MVP — who herself ranked No. 9 on The Athletic’s list.
Former Tennessee Titans running back and current Bowling Green football coach Eddie George, who like Staley hails from Philadelphia, spoke to her broader influence:
“Her impact goes far beyond wins and championships. She builds people, sets standards and has left every program better than she found it. Dawn transcends sports; the best leaders in every arena look to her for wisdom, perspective and guidance.”
The article explained that the term “most admired” was used intentionally. Participants didn’t need a personal connection to the leaders they selected and could admire them for any reason — from character and integrity to leadership style and results. Leaders had to be active in 2025 as a coach, player, or executive, and voters were allowed to select people they had worked with or played for.
Former NBA assistant coach Scoonie Penn captured what many players and coaches feel about Staley:
“It’s the way players always talk about her, the love they show her, the way they go back to the school and the way she shows up for them. That’s really powerful.”
In a sport defined by results, Dawn Staley continues to prove that how you lead matters just as much as what you win — and that’s why her admiration extends far beyond basketball.
