Dawn Staley delivers powerful speech at statue unveiling in Columbia

The unveiling ceremony of a bronze statue honoring South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley drew a lively crowd of over 300 people on a sunny April afternoon in Columbia. In attendance were Dawn Staley herself, Columbia mayor Daniel Rickmann, City manager Teresa Wilson, representatives from Aflac (one of Staley's long-time partners), several university officials, and many other special guests who have supported Staley throughout her career.

Mayor Rickmann opened the ceremony proclaiming the month of May as "Coach Dawn Staley Month" in the City of Columbia. Before leading an exciting countdown to the official unveiling, the mayor spoke candidly about Staley's impact. He noted that the statue is a tribute that will "encourage young female athletes to push for the same funding, attention, and respect as men's sports often receive." This sentiment set an empowering tone for the ceremony, emphasizing how Coach Staley has inspired generations to come.

When the countdown was finished, the black drape covering the statue was pulled off the statue and the crowd erupted in cheers. The bronze likeness of Dawn Staley, depicted in mid-celebration with a net in hand, the sculpture shows Staley standing on a ladder waving a piece of the cut net beside a plaque bearing her name. The statue is located near the USC Alumni Center and the Statehouse. The location was chosen on purpose, due to Staley preferring not to put it directly outside the Colonial Life Arena, where the statue of her star player A'ja Wilson already stands.

Speakers throughout the ceremony highlighted Dawn Staley's impact both on and off the court. Mayor Rickmann and others spoke about her coaching accomplishments, her numerous Final Four appearances, and her three NCAA Championship titles. But the praise didn't stop there, as they also spoke about her dedication to the Columbia community.

When Coach Staley took to the podium, she delivered a heartfelt and thoughtful speech that drew laughter and admiration from the crowd. She acknowledged that having a statue was never what she sought for herself stating, "When conversations began honoring A'ja Wilson with her statue... I'll admit I wanted hers tot be the only one. Ever." The humble admission underscored Staley's tendency to put others before herself. However, she followed it up by explaining how city officials and the USC Athletics Director convinced her of the idea by pointing out that only about 6% of statues around the world recognize women. That realization shifted Staley's perspective on what the statue stands for beyond her professional achievements.

“Remember that when women aren’t represented, half of the population is left out of retelling history on the many accomplishments women have had in shaping the world,” she told the audience.

She continued by explaining why she ultimately accepted the statue: “I agreed to the statue, not for me, but for the girl who will walk by one day and wonder who I was. Maybe she’ll look me up. She’ll see that I did some things in basketball, of course, but I hope she sees much more. I hope she sees that I was a champion for equity and equality, that in my own way I pushed for change… that I stood proudly in the space God called me to inhabit, not as someone perfect or extraordinary but as a regular girl who used her gifts to open doors so other girls wouldn’t have to knock as hard.”

Her words drew a loud applause as the reactions to her speech and what the statue represents for Staley was overwhelmingly positive and inspirational. Today's ceremony encapsulated Dawn Staley's achievements on the court and in the city, ultimately showcasing her true legacy: the opportunities she has created for others through equality, community and the power of sports to transform lives.