The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday that Virginia legend, WNBA standout, three-time Olympic gold medalist and successful collegiate head coach Dawn Staley will join 12 others as part of the Class of 2013. She will become the first Cavalier women’s basketball player to be inducted into the Springfield, Mass. institution.
A Philadelphia native, Staley represents Virginia’s female complement to Virginia Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson: a dominant player and trusted leader who spearheaded the Cavaliers’ most successful stretch in program history. After arriving in Charlottesville as the reigning USA Today National High School Player of the Year, Staley led Virginia to three consecutive Final Fours — including the 1991 national championship game, which the Cavaliers lost to Tennessee, 70-67 in overtime — and earned National Player of the Year Honors in both the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Staley remains the only player in NCAA history with 2,000 points, 700 assists and 400 steals for her career, ranking second in school history in each category.
Staley flourished in the 1990s as a professional in Europe and contributor to the 1996 United States gold medal-winning team before eventually joining the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting in 1999. She reached five All-Star teams and the 2001 WNBA Finals with the Sting before finishing her professional career in Houston.
Even while she cemented herself as one of the greatest women’s players ever — adding 2000 and 2004 Olympic gold to her WNBA accolades — Staley simultaneously served as Temple’s head coach, guiding the Owls to six NCAA Tournament appearances from 2000-2008. Hired at South Carolina in 2008, she has resuscitated the floundering Gamecock program and led the team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Staley boasts a 264-146 career coaching record.
A slew of the game’s titans comprise her fellow inductees, including reigning National Championship coach Rick Pitino, North Carolina women’s coach Sylvia Hatchell and NBA-great Gary Payton. The induction ceremony will take place Sept. 8 in Springfield.
Upon hearing the announcement, Staley tweeted: “How incredible it is to be among greatness?!! I’m still in shock…and dreaming.”
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