Dawn Staley declined to coach Philadelphia’s WNBA club. Rodney Knuppel

Dawn Staley has long been an influential figure in women’s basketball. She is well-known for developing powerful teams at South Carolina, but she has also been more involved in the WNBA and its stars.

The 55-year-old Gamecocks head coach continues to upgrade her program while keeping a close eye on the professional game’s development. As she prepares for another national title run in 2025-26, Staley is also sharing more of her story and vision for women’s basketball’s future.

She spoke on the “Not Gonna Lie” podcast earlier this week, with Kylie Kelce, the wife of former NFL great Jason Kelce. During their chat, the possibility of a WNBA expansion team in Philadelphia was brought up.

Staley was forthright in her response.

“No. “You know why?” She asked. “Because I’d rather be the owner. I believe there is much more to ownership.

She stopped briefly before continuing:

“If I am an owner, I think I can touch more people.”

Staley made it clear that, despite her deep roots in Philadelphia, she has no plans to lead a WNBA franchise there. Instead, she sees ownership as a way to have a greater influence.

During the conversation, Staley also discussed her new book, ‘Uncommon Favor,’ which focuses on the highlights of her career, most notably South Carolina’s undefeated run to the 2024 NCAA title.

“The things that have happened to me throughout my career. The truly good stuff. “We won the NCAA national championship undefeated,” she remarked.

Regarding why she chose now to release the book:

“I felt like it was the right time to do it… to pay homage to Philly and North Philly.”

Dawn Staley South Carolina
Dawn Staley is the head coach for South Carolina’s women’s college basketball team. © Vasha Hunt-Images

The book is ranked 15th on the New York Times Audio Bestseller list. Staley has been busy promoting it, including a spring book tour and signing sessions.

Staley started her coaching career at Temple in 2000. After eight seasons, she took over at South Carolina in 2008. Since then, she has transformed the Gamecocks into a powerhouse, with five consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament Final Four.

Staley’s influence spreads far beyond the court. Whether she’s discussing the future of the WNBA or recognizing her Philadelphia heritage, her voice is one of the most revered in the sport.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22)