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Recognizing, honoring, and congratulating Dawn Staley, coach of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, for leading the undefeated 38-0 Gamecocks to victory in the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, her second championship in three seasons and third championship in her coaching career.
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WHEREAS, Dawn Michelle Staley was born May 4, 1970 to Clarence and Estelle Staley in North Philadelphia, growing up between 23rd and 25th and Diamond Streets in the Raymond Rosen Housing Projects; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Staley was a standout high school basketball player at North Philadelphia's Murrell Dobbins Technical High School, winning three Public League championships and being named USA Today's 1988 National High School Player of the Year during her senior year; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Staley would go on to attend the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, leading the Virginia Cavaliers to four NCAA Tournaments, three Final Fours, and one National Championship game appearance where she was named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Staley represented her country with distinction, being named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year in 1994 and leading the 1996 U.S. Olympic team to an undefeated 60-0 gold medal campaign at the Atlanta Games; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Staley would win five Olympic gold medals with Team USA between 1996 and 2004, being selected to carry the flag of the United States during the opening ceremony parade of nations at the 2004 Athens Games and being named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year again later that year; and
WHEREAS, Dawn Staley was selected ninth overall in the 1999 WNBA Draft by the Charlotte Sting, leading the Sting to a WNBA championship just two seasons later; and
WHEREAS, Temple University named Dawn Staley head coach of the women's basketball team in 2000, commencing Staley's legendary coaching career with a return to North Philadelphia that saw Temple win four Atlantic-10 Cham...
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