WHEREAS, Dawn Michelle Staley (born May 4, 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an US-American basketball player and coach; and
WHEREAS, Staley attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. During her four seasons in college, she led her team to four NCAA Tournaments and three Final Fours and one National Championship Game. She was named the ACC female athlete of the year and the national player of the year in 1991 and 1992. Staley finished her college playing career with 2,135 points and holds the NCAA record for career steals with 454; and
WHEREAS, In the 1999 WNBA Draft, Staley was selected with the ninth overall pick by the Charlotte Sting. In 2001, she led the Sting to the Championship game of the WNBA playoffs; and
WHEREAS, Staley repeatedly played for team USA throughout her career. In 1994 she competed in the World Championships and was named the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. She led the 1996 team to an undefeated record of 60-0 and the gold medal at the Olympic games in Atlanta. She was also a member of the 2000 Olympic Team that defended the gold medal; and
WHEREAS, She won a third gold medal with Team USA at the 2004 Games in Athens. Her Olympic performance lead to her being named 2004 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year at the end of the year. Before the Games, she was selected to carry the flag of the United States during the parade of nations at the opening ceremony; and
WHEREAS, After the 1999 college basketball season, Temple University named Staley the head coach of its women's basketball program. In her first season, the team advanced to the WNIT. In 2001, 2002, and 2004, her teams won the Atlantic 10 Tournament to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The 2004-05 season her Owls went 28-4 on the year, including a perfect 19-0 against Atlantic 10 opponents. As a result of the streak, Coach Staley led the Owls to a 25 game winning streak, longest at that date in the nation (Men's Or Women's); and
WHEREAS, In the midst of the run, Coach Staley reached the 100th win plateau in the A-10 Semifinals vs Xavier, becoming the fastest coach in women's basketball to achieve that; and
WHEREAS, She heads the Dawn Staley Foundation, which gives middle-school children a positive influence in their lives by sponsoring an after-school program at the Hank Gathers Recreation Center. The Center focuses on academics and athletics and sponsors basketball leagues and other fund-raising activities; and
WHEREAS,Dawn is currently writing a four-book series loosely based on her childhood.
WHEREAS, Dawn was named the recipient of the Woman One Award for community and public service and a runner- up for the first-annual Wooden Cup Award, named after John Wooden; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we honor Dawn Staley for her achievements and civic service to the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dawn Staley, further evidencing the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
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