“I am truly grateful”: Dawn Staley sends a heartfelt message to fans after turning 55

Dawn Staley’s Birthday Message

On her 55th birthday, South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley expressed her gratitude to fans on X (formerly Twitter):

“Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I am truly grateful to have you in my life no matter the level. Only by God’s grace I got to see double nickel and to share it with you all makes it truly special. I love you. I love you. And I love you!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Associate head coach Lisa Boyer also shared a warm birthday wish for Staley on X, describing her as an “incredible human being”

“It’s time to wish our best girl @dawnstaley a VERY VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Many know her as ‘Coach’ but she is an incredible human being. ONE OF ONE!!! Love me some Dawnnie:):) Enjoy your day my friend.”

Staley’s Reflection on Her Statue

The South Carolina Women’s Basketball official page on X posted a picture of Dawn Staley standing in front of her newly built statue. She shared her thoughts on its significance.

“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.

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, but as a regular gurl who used her gifts to open doors so other girls wouldn’t have to knock as hard.”