‘Amazing favor’: Dawn Staley becomes first black coach to win three Division I basketball titles

Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team, made history Sunday night by becoming the first Black head coach, either male or female, to win three Division 1 basketball championships.

This achievement got here after The University of South Carolina defeated the University of Iowa87-75 within the NCAA Championship Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on Sunday, April 7.

The victory marked one other milestone for Staley and added to her impressive trophy collection, which incorporates two previous national championship victories in 2017 and 2022. Under her leadership, the South Carolina Gamecocks finished the season with an ideal 38-0 record, making it the tenth overall team. the team in women’s basketball history that recorded an undefeated season, CBS News reports. With the victory, Staley also became the fifth coach to win not less than three titles.

Staley’s success was recognized beyond the NCAA Championships as she was named Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year for the fourth time in five years before the Final Four.

During a television interview after winning the championship, Staley became overcome with emotion and expressed her gratitude.

“We serve an incredible God,” she said. “An extraordinary favor. So blessed.”

Additionally, Staley celebrated the representation of Black women within the sports media industry, especially during Final Four weekend when former South Carolina player Aliyah Boston joined the ESPN broadcast team. Staley emphasized tthe importance of getting five Black women on the desks through the most significant games in college basketball history, highlighting their contributions to the game and their ability to take it to recent heights.

“Black women hold it,” Staley said. “Hold it, take it to another level and it’s quite extraordinary.”