WHEREAS, Dawn Michelle Staley, a North Philadelphia native, graduated from Murrell Dobbins Technical High School, where she was named national high school player of the year during her final season; and
WHEREAS, Staley went on to University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where she led her team to four NCAA Tournaments, three Final Fours and on National Championship game during her first four seasons, becoming the highest scoring player at the time and ultimately had her number 24 retired at UVA; and
WHEREAS, After graduation, Staley went on to play professional basketball in Tarbes, France, in Italy, Brazil, and Spain before joining the American Basketball League (ABL), and then the WNBA; and
WHEREAS, Staley went on to coach Temple University women’s basketball team from 2000-08, leaving with the best overall record of 172-80, six NCAA appearances, and four Atlantic 10 titles; and
WHEREAS, Staley left Temple to coach the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, where she rebuilt the basketball program from scratch, ultimately winning an NCAA championship in 2017 after less than a decade at the helm; and
WHEREAS, Among the many accolades of her career, Staley won three Public League basketball championships, was named to three-time All-American teams at the University of Virginia, became an All-Star in the WNBA, and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Staley, would go on to lead the United States women’s Olympic basketball team to a 90-75 victory over Japan, earning six gold medals in her Olympic career - three as a player, two as an assistant coach and one as a head coach; and
WHEREAS, Staley continues inspire young people in her North Philadelphia community and sports fans around the world
;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors and congratulates Dawn Staley for coaching the 2021 Olympic Gold Medal Winning U.S. Women’s Basketball Team.
End