Dawn Staley smoothly transitioned from being one of the greatest WNBA players of all time to an NCAA coaching legend. Staley took over Temple and immediately started winning, only missing the NCAA tournament twice as Owls’ head coach.
At South Carolina, she’s turned the team into a juggernaut, winning three NCAA tournament titles, winning nine SEC regular season and tournament titles, and winning the Naismith Coach of the Year Award four times. And she sends players to the league.
Dallas Wings GM Praises South Carolina’s Dawn Staley for Sending Players to WNBA
Dallas Wings GM Curt Miller had nothing but positive things to say about Staley.
“Dawn Staley puts players in the pros, period,” Miller said.
The Wings roster currently includes two Gamecock players, Tyasha Harris and Mikiah Herbert Harrington. Both played for Staley in South Carolina from 2016 to 2020.
Staley has a history of players drafted into the league, with Candice Dupree being her first pupil picked by a WNBA team when she was still with Temple in 2006 and going on to become a seven-time WNBA All-Star. Kamesha Hairston followed in 2007.
In South Carolina, it took Staley some time to get settled before sending her first Gamecock, Tiffany Mitchell, to the WNBA in 2016. Mitchell was followed by Alaina Coates, Kaela Davis, and two-time All-Star Allisha Gray in 2017.
In 2018, the biggest star of them all made the WNBA out of South Carolina. The Las Vegas Aces landed A’Ja Wilson with the first overall pick and completely revamped their franchise.
Since heading to Las Vegas, Wilson has won three WNBA MVPs, two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards, two WNBA championships, and one WNBA Finals MVP. Wilson is also a six-time All-Star and four-time All-WNBA First-Team member.
In 2020, the Gamecocks once again sent two players to the league, in Harrington and Harris. Destanni Henderson followed in 2022.
In 2023, a slew of South Carolina players entered the league, including the first overall pick in the draft, two-time All-Star Aliyah Boston. Laeticia Amihere and Zia Cooke were also taken in the first round, and Brea Beal and Victaria Saxton were second—and third-round picks.
KEEP READING: Top 10 Women’s College Basketball Players in 2025
The latest Gamecock to enter the league is Kamilla Cardoso, who was picked No. 3 overall by the Chicago Sky in 2024.
This year, guards Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson, and forward Sania Feagin are projected to be picked.
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