Dawn Staley first Black coach with three Division I titles

Dawn Staley, the head coach of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team, achieved a historic milestone on Sunday by becoming the first Black coach, regardless of gender, to win three Division 1 basketball titles. This happened when the University of South Carolina defeated The University of Iowa with a score of 87-75 in the NCAA Championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on April 7.

This victory added to Staley’s impressive collection of trophies, which includes two previous national championship wins in 2017 and 2022. Under her guidance, the South Carolina Gamecocks finished the season with a flawless 38-0 record, making them only the 10th team in women’s basketball history to have an undefeated season, according to CBS News. With this win, Staley also became the fifth coach to win at least three titles.

Staley’s accomplishments extend beyond the NCAA Championship, as she was awarded the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year for the fourth time in five years before the Final Four.

In a post-game interview, Staley was visibly emotional and expressed her gratitude, saying, “We serve an amazing God. We have been incredibly blessed.”

Additionally, Staley celebrated the representation of Black women in sports media, especially during the Final Four weekend when former South Carolina player Aliyah Boston joined the ESPN broadcasting crew. Staley emphasized the importance of having five Black women at the desk for the biggest games in college basketball history, highlighting their contributions to the sport and their ability to elevate it to new levels.

“Black women are making a mark,” Staley remarked. “They are taking it to the next level, and it’s truly remarkable.”

Repurposed article originally published in ESSENCE