Dawn Staley almost did what few schools have done and win a back-to-back national title with South Carolina earlier this year. They reached the national championship game but failed to win that elusive back-to-back against UConn.
Back in 2023, South Carolina lost to Caitlin Clark and Iowa during the Final Four. This then led to several racist remarks against not just her, but members of her team, and she clapped back against them, particularly against those criticizing her in the media.
“We’re not bar fighters. We’re not thugs. We’re not monkeys. We’re not street fighters. … So watch what you say when you’re in public and you’re talking about my team in particular.
“We’re not bar fighters. We’re not thugs. We’re not monkeys. We’re not street fighters. … So watch what you say when you’re in public and you’re talking about my team in particular.”
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley had a message for the media. pic.twitter.com/4Y6WL3T8MX
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 1, 2023
Most of the criticism was directed towards her “aggressive” and physical gameplay, which gave Clark and Iowa a hard time. She also clapped back at these allegations.
“I do think with all the talk of how we play and the physical nature in which we play and the description of our team, I do think it plays a part,” she told the media. “People got to do what they got to do to win. I’m not going to stoop that low. We’ve won a lot of basketball games doing it this way. We’re not changing.”
Dawn Staley Shares Positive News: She Is Now a New York Times Bestseller
Meanwhile, as Dawn Staley claps back at critics, she also shared some positive news on X, as her book, “Uncommon Favor,” has now ranked No. 10 in the New York Times Bestseller list.
“Evening my good peeps,” Staley wrote on X. “My Uncommon Favor peeps! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We did it again! Unbelievably grateful for your uncommon support and uncommon love in making this happen again! UNCOMMON FAVOR has made the @nytbestsellers_ list this week!”
Evening my good peeps!! My Uncommon Favor peeps! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We did it again! Unbelievably grateful for your uncommon support and uncommon love in making this happen again! UNCOMMON FAVOR has made the @nytbestsellers_ list this week! pic.twitter.com/fmdPFzPbTc
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 9, 2025
Staley’s book was a memoir about her days as a standout basketball player and then making a shift to coaching.
Related: An Anomaly’ – Dawn Staley Calls Caitlin Clark the Toughest Player She’s Coached Against
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