Whether you are an athlete or not, you have probably heard of Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley. She is not only a talented swimmer, but also the founder of the Dawn Staley Foundation, which supports children’s health and education. In this article, you’ll learn about her career, family life, and relationship with her husband.
Olympic gold medalist
During the 2004 Summer Olympics, Dawn Staley was selected to carry the United States flag during the opening ceremonies of the games in Athens, Greece. She was the first female athlete to do so.
In addition to her basketball accomplishments, Staley has won accolades for her work in the community. Her nonprofit, the Dawn Staley Foundation, sponsors underprivileged girls programs, fosters mentoring and encourages character building. The organization has earned an American Red Cross Spectrum Award for community service.
After Staley’s career in the WNBA ended, she served as an assistant coach for Team USA during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In 2007, Staley led the U.S. Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Chile. She also served as the head coach for the 2007 USA Pan American Games team.
Founder of the Dawn Staley Foundation
Throughout her career as a basketball player, Dawn Staley earned numerous awards and accolades, including national high school and collegiate player of the year. She also became the first Black woman to win two NCAA championships.
During her playing career, she also won three Olympic gold medals and was a member of the Dream Team. She was named a national high school player of the year by USA Today in 1988. She was selected to the all-star teams of the American Basketball League (ABL) in 1997 and 1998.
As a basketball coach, Dawn Staley has turned around struggling programs at both the University of Virginia and Temple University. She is now head coach at the University of South Carolina. She has won numerous awards and is a two-time recipient of the Wanamaker Award. She was also awarded the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service.
Family life
Known for her accomplishments on the basketball court, Dawn Staley has also worked as a community activist. She has created the Dawn Staley Foundation to provide underprivileged girls with the opportunity to develop their leadership and academic skills. In addition to sponsoring basketball leagues, the foundation has an after-school program for middle school students.
The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to foster leadership and teamwork in underprivileged children. The organization provides free after-school programs and tutorials in athletics and academics. Its mission is to create a positive environment for young people in the North Philadelphia neighborhood where it is located. The foundation also has a scholarship program for underprivileged students.
Staley grew up in the Diamond Avenue and 25th Street projects of Philadelphia. Her parents moved from South Carolina in the 1950s. They wanted their five children to be successful. They believed that a good education was the key to a successful life outside the projects.
Career
During her life as a basketball star, Dawn Staley became a three-time Olympic gold medalist. She also won the National Player of the Year award, the Naismith Award, and three major National Coach of the Year awards.
Staley started her basketball career as a high school player in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She led the Dobbins Vo-Tech Lady Mustangs to three consecutive Philadelphia Public League championships and earned the honor of National High School Player of the Year.
After high school, she attended the University of Virginia, where she played for four years. She was a member of the National Team, and helped the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances. She was named a National Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. She finished her college career with 2,135 points.
Relationship with her husband
Despite the fact that Dawn Staley is known for her stellar basketball career, her personal life is a mystery. She is known for being a bit secretive about her relationships, and she has never confirmed that she has ever gotten married. Nevertheless, there are some rumors that she has a girlfriend.
One such relationship is rumored to be with Lisa Boyer, the associate head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team. While there are no specifics about their relationship, they have been spotted together in team tournaments, and they have been working together for five years.
The rumored relationship between Staley and Boyer has been fueled by the duo’s sarcastic and passive-aggressive approach on social media. The two have been compared to a couple that began as a cute and youthful relationship, but have grown older and more serious.