There are coaches who win games. Then there are coaches who build dynasties. Dawn Staley does both—and she does it with purpose.

Nominated for Sportswoman of the Year at the 2025 BET Awards, Staley has become more than just a successful NCAA coach—she’s one of the most respected and revolutionary leaders in all of sports. From her days as a fiery point guard to her reign as the head coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball program, Staley has changed the game for generations of Black women athletes, on and off the court.

Under her leadership, South Carolina has become the blueprint. The program she’s built isn’t just dominant—it’s disruptive. In an era where powerhouses like UConn and Tennessee used to own the space, Staley created a new powerhouse in the South, centered on Black excellence, discipline, and community.

She’s brought home multiple NCAA national titles, developed numerous WNBA stars, and turned South Carolina into a destination for the country’s top recruits. Players like A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, and Zia Cooke didn’t just thrive under her system—they left as fully-formed leaders, both as athletes and as women.

But Staley’s influence extends far beyond the wins. She’s a cultural force. A style icon. A speaker of truth. Whether she’s rocking throwback Jordans on the sideline or using press conferences to advocate for equity in women’s sports, she does it all authentically—without apology or dilution.

And that’s exactly why she resonates. Because in every aspect of her career, Dawn Staley centers Black women. She hires them. She mentors them. She fights for them in spaces where their voices are often silenced. Her advocacy around pay disparities, media respect, and opportunity has become just as important as her basketball strategy.

She’s also made history at every level. As a player, she was a national college star, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a trailblazer in the early days of professional women’s basketball. She coached Team USA to gold in the Tokyo Olympics. She became the first Black woman to coach a national championship-winning NCAA team.

And even as her accolades pile up, Staley remains rooted. She still shows up for HBCUs, still supports grassroots organizations, and still finds time to speak directly to the next generation. Her Instagram is full of behind-the-scenes moments, encouragement for her players, and reminders that success should never require assimilation.

In 2024 and 2025, her South Carolina squad once again made deep tournament runs, and her coaching tree continues to grow. More than a mentor, she’s become a movement—an example of what happens when excellence is allowed to thrive without compromise.

Her BET nomination is not about one moment. It’s about the sum total of everything she’s built—and everything she’s refused to compromise on. She’s not just a leader in sports. She’s a leader in culture. A torchbearer. A truth-teller.

And she’s not done yet. Dawn Staley doesn’t just coach winners. She creates legacies.