Is South Carolina Gamecock coach Dawn Staley the GOAT of women’s basketball?
Maybe. But it’s not a conversation she wants to have.
As a coach and a person of faith, however, Staley isn’t shy about speaking of how God is the ultimate GOAT in her life. In fact, this past Sunday she used her sport’s biggest stage to acknowledge the uncommon favor she has experienced by virtue of that belief.
From a sports perspective, it is unquestionable that the case for Staley being one of the most important figures in the history of women’s basketball is certainly stronger after she led South Carolina to a perfect season and national championship. The victory was even sweeter as it served ultimate act of redemption — a win against the team (Iowa) that ended their undefeated campaign last year.
Yet winning isn’t new to Staley.
The Philadelphia native and national high school player of the year started her lifetime of hoops success at the University of Virginia, where she was NCAA women’s basketball’s two-time player-of-the-year and led her team to three Final Fours and a national title game. She experienced gold medal runs as an Olympic player and coach. She had successful ABL and WNBA careers and has had massive success as both a coach of the Temple Owls and now, the once-again champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
If that’s not enough, Staley is the only individual to win the Naismith Award as both a player and a coach. She is the first Black coach to win three Division I national championships.
Bottom line: Staley is a career-long testament to the established excellence and fast-rising popularity of of women’s basketball. Check that, women’s sports. Period.
With all of that in mind, after South Carolina’s emotional victory against future WNBA number one draft pick Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, I wasn’t thinking about what Staley achieved as a competitor on a national stage.
What struck me the most is what she said on that stage, particularly as a leader who isn’t shy about expressing her religious and spiritual identity.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after ... [+]
Staley’s post-game sideline interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe was a three-minute masterclass in faith, coaching, parenting and leadership. Staley’s comments on the victory podium were filled with joy, grace and empowerment. She spoke as a woman who does not hide her faith, nor her emotions. Most of all, she spoke words of a woman who knows that nothing is guaranteed in life and that it both perspective and perseverance that shape who we are and what we can overcome.
Dawn Staley is a believer: in her players, in her team, and in her faith.
When asked to respond to the crowing achievement of a long season, Staley didn’t wear the crown — she bestowed it.
“We serve an unbelievable God,” Staley said. “Uncommon favor. So blessed.”
For those not familiar with the term, ‘uncommon favor’ is the belief that God can bestow blessings upon adherents of Christianity in extraordinary, unexpected — even unmerited, ways. In Staley’s words:
“I mean God is funny like that. He rips your heart out and he makes you believe.”
The concept of uncommon favor also is underpinned by Christian principles of mercy, grace, and divine intervention, as well as a textual reading of the Christian Bible. For example, it is said the biblical figure of Noah found uncommon favor, which allowed his family to be spared from a great flood. (Genesis 6:8). Similarly, the biblical story of Joseph exemplifies uncommon favor — transforming Joseph from a cast out brother to one of the most powerful men in Egypt. (Genesis 39-41). In the New Testament/Gospels, the concept of favor becomes even more pronounced through the birth and life of Jesus Christ. For example, Luke 1:30 recounts the angel Gabriel’s message to Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
Although it has a theological history, in contemporary context the concept of uncommon favor has found resonance in various Christian movements reaching new audiences, including in charismatic Christianity, praise and worship, prosperity gospel, and Pentecostalism. Each of these movements emphasize the ‘uncommon favor’ that can experienced by those of active faith and who acknowledge divine favor in the form of healings, financial blessings, and other miraculous occurrences.
For individuals like Dawn Staley, uncommon favor is not a given, but it is a gift. Especially a gift worth acknowledging.
Profoundly. Publicly. Persuasively.
Which is exactly what Staley did on the basketball court after winning a a championship (after graduating five starters from last season).
So what does this have to with work?
A lot actually.
Staley’s faith has been evident throughout this season, and she never shied away from using her voice to amplify her faith for others to hear. Staley also never excluded others who believed differently. She coaches like she believes — with focus, tenacity, and compassion. And she puts her Christian values on full display through her actions.
She defended her players when she felt they were being unjustly criticized.
She celebrated the rise of the entire sport, including publicly praising the ESPN telecast crew of all Black women (including her former star player Aliyah Boston).
Earlier during championship weekend, Staley even responded to a question about one of the most politically fraught topics in women’s sports — unambiguously and unapologetically expressing her belief that transgender women should be allowed to play women’s basketball at the collegiate level.
Staley hasn’t claimed uncommon favor exclusively; she hasn’t knocked down others, even in her team’s victories. She has elevated them, even on her own path to the mountaintop. This was evident on championship Sunday when she used the moment in the post-game celebration to acknowledge Clark, the Iowa superstar who played her last collegiate game in the loss to South Carolina.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: ead coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks to the ... [+]
"I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport,” Staley said. “And it's just — it's not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the number one pick in the WNBA draft, she's going to lift that league up as well," Staley added in postgame remarks. "Caitlin Clark if you’re out there: You are one of the GOATs of our game, and we appreciate you."
Some of us work in offices; others on factory floors. We are executives, employees, consultants and counselors. While our career roles may be defined by what we do, our lives are defined by who we are, what we believe and how we translate those beliefs into impact. In our homes, in our communities...
and in our work.
So yes, Dawn Staley is a proven winner. but more than that, she’s a proven leader who integrates her beliefs and her passions into her place of work — which happens to be on a hardwood court on one of the world’s biggest sports stages.
"You have to let young people be who they are. You have to guide them and navigate them through this world," Staley said following her team’s championship victory. "When young people lock in and have a belief and trust … this is what can happen."
This is what uncommon favor can look like to someone who embraces their faith in service to their work and by putting faith TO work in service to achieving professional and personal goals.
Perhaps Staley is the GOAT in women's basketball. My guess is that’s not what she wants to debate. But what does make Dawn Staley a truly exceptional, even uncommon, is her willingness to make deep and public expressions of her faith — of what is possible, and what makes everything possible.
And THAT is what makes her an ultimate champion.
