Photo by Josh Cruse
On Wednesday, April 30, the City of Columbia unveiled a permanent statue honoring Coach Dawn Staley, a basketball icon and community leader whose legacy continues to uplift generations. The ceremony, held at the intersection of Senate and Lincoln Streets, brought together civic leaders, the University of South Carolina, Aflac, and many of Staley’s former teammates, players, and supporters. Coach Staley’s contributions transcend her historic achievements as a three-time Olympic gold medalist, Hall of Fame player, and one of the winningest coaches in NCAA women’s basketball history. She is the only black coach in NCAA history—men’s or women’s—with multiple national titles and most recently led the University of South Carolina to a perfect 38-0 season and another NCAA Championship in 2024. The statue, commissioned by Statues for Equality, features Staley standing on a ladder, net in hand—a tribute to her iconic tradition of cutting down nets in victory.
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