In a momentous recognition of excellence, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has been named the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in college women’s basketball, rising above a legendary field that included UConn icon Diana Taurasi, USC trailblazer Cheryl Miller, and LSU’s decorated coach Kim Mulkey. This honor cements Staley’s status not just as a winning coach but as a transformational figure in the sport.
A former Olympian and point guard with an unmatched basketball IQ, Staley has redefined what leadership looks like on and off the court. At South Carolina, she built a powerhouse program from the ground up, leading the Gamecocks to multiple national championships and producing WNBA stars while championing equity and opportunity for women of color in coaching.
Taurasi’s scoring brilliance, Miller’s pioneering dominance, and Mulkey’s coaching résumé were formidable competition. But it was Staley’s blend of on-court success, cultural impact, and trailblazing legacy that ultimately set her apart. Her triumph is not just a win for South Carolina but for generations of athletes and coaches inspired by her journey.
Dawn Staley’s GOAT status reflects her unmatched impact on college basketball’s history—past, present, and future. The game has never seen a leader quite lik
e her.
