Dawn Staley Honored With Statue In South Carolina

Dawn Staley’s legacy is forever immortalized on the campus with a statue in her honor,” the Lexington Chronicle reported.

During what the state has called “Staley Month”, the statue is a celebration of Staley’s impact as a coach, leader, advocate, and inspiration to future generations. ⁠The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer hopes that the tribute will inspire young girls to learn about her journey and pursue their own dreams boldly.

At the ceremony, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann called for the removal of the tarp and a Gamecock flag that revealed the likeness of Staley.  The 14-foot, 1,000-pound statue shows Staley on top of a ladder cutting down the championship as she rocks a Gamecock hat. 

In an official statement, the city paid tribute to Staley for her remarkable tenure as Women’s Basketball coach.

“The City of Columbia, in partnership with the Statues for Equality and generous community partners, is proud to unveil a statue honoring the legendary Dawn Staley, an icon whose impact reaches far beyond the basketball court,” the statement read.

“This tribute celebrates not only her championship legacy as a coach and player, but also her unwavering commitment to leadership, community empowerment, and uplifting future generations,” the statement went on. ‘Dawn Staley’s influence continues to inspire both on and off the court, and this statue stands as a lasting symbol of excellence, resilience, and pride for Columbia and the entire state of South Carolina.”

“I agreed to the statue, not for me, but for the girl who will walk by one day and wonder who I was. Maybe she’ll look me up. She’ll see that I did some things in basketball, of course, but I hope she sees much more,” Staley said during the unveiling ceremony. “I hope she sees that I was a champion for equity and equality. That, in my own way, I pushed for change. That I stood proudly in the space God called me to inhabit, not as someone perfect or extraordinary, but as a regular girl who used her gifts to open doors so other girls wouldn’t have to knock as hard.”

According to Sierra Rooney, a professor of art history at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, only 6% of statues in the United States are of real women. When Staley caught wind of this, she fully understood how significantly a statue could inspire generations to come.

“When women aren’t represented, half the population is left out of the retelling of history and the many accomplishments women have had in shaping the world,” Staley said. 

Since taking over the Gamecocks program in 2008, Staley has led the squad to three national titles and seven Final Four appearances. She’s also achieved seven 30-win seasons and nine SEC tournament championships.