“You could smell the urine”: When Dawn Staley got real on how her childhood challenges 'armed' her for success

Dawn Staley took over the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2008 and has since led the team to national prestige with three championships in 2017, 2022 and 2024. Staley has come a long way from her growing years and later coaching at Temple University in Philadelphia.

In an August 2021 interview with Finding Mastery, Dawn Staley recalled her childhood growing up in North Philly in the housing projects called the Raymond Rosen Housing Projects.

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"We thought we lived in like, suburban America because the high rises were filled with some of everything," she said. (2:26) "You could smell the urine as you as you get on the elevator to walk through the halls."

Dawn Staley's parents, Clarence and Estelle, raised her and her four siblings in a strict manner. She said that her mother, who used to clean toilets, was extremely strict with her. This, along with her community, was the reason why she grew to be a good person, despite being raised in areas with prevalent crime and gang wars.

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"The dynamics of living in the projects are so great because we did not know life outside of the projects and we felt like we had everything that we needed to arm ourselves to be survivors," she said.

"We knew we were surrounded by a lot of crime but we also were protected by the people in our neighborhood that wouldn't allow us to stray off the straight to the wrong path."

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Dawn Staley comments on the growth of women's basketball

Dawn Staley spent four years playing for the Virginia Cavaliers from 1988 to 1992 and led them to three Final Four appearances. She was named Naismith College Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. At the time, the WNBA was yet to be formed, and this meant that her dreams of playing professionally were greatly restricted.

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"There wasn't an outlet when I was growing up," Staley said. "My goals and dream were to play in the NBA. The WNBA wasn't thought about. I wanted to play in the Olympics. The Olympics, national championship and NBA is where I saw most of my basketball growing up.

"And I only saw a woman play in two of those events, Olympics and national championship. Those were my goals, to be a gold medalist and a national champion."

While she was not able to win a national championship, Dawn Staley did win three Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 1996, 2000 and 2004.

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"Today’s youth have aspirations of making it to the WNBA. Unlike my time, they’ve grown up with a WNBA. They are elevating our sport to new heights," Staley said. "I can't imagine it turning out any more beautifully than what we are experiencing now."

After winning the NCAA championship last season, coach Staley's Gamecocks are the favorite to repeat another title win this season.

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