“Almost Like You’re Giving Birth”: When Dawn Staley Opened Up On Rare Bond With Players Using An Unexpected Comparison

South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley once compared her bond with her players to an unexpected comparison that speaks about how deep it truly is.

Over a decade ago, back in April of 2015, an article was published by Vic Docc Jr. of the Richmond Times-Dispatch that tackled all about Staley’s perspectives on coaching and mentoring young women’s college basketball players.

In one part of the article, Staley was asked about her mindset when it comes to dealing with her players’ emotions and tendencies.

She then brought up parenthood, and that the physical and emotional connection that comes with coaching young players has brought her a sense of fulfilment and balance to her existence as a person.

“I don’t have children. But (coaching) has given me so many of the emotions that accompany parenthood.

It’s almost like you’re giving birth (when a freshman enters my program). She becomes your child. She becomes a part of your life, a big part of your life, and you work on a daily basis to shape her life. You leave a big part of yourself with her.

You want to give her the tools she needs to be successful (in basketball and beyond),” Staley was quoted as saying.

Staley is coming off a 2024-25 season with her Gamecocks squad, in which they finished with an overall record of 35-4 (15-1 SEC).

Unfortunately for the 55-year-old and the rest of the South Carolina faithful, their 2024 national title defense was foiled by the eventual 2025 national champions in the UConn Huskies through a 23-point defeat, 82-59, during this year’s NCAA championship game.

Dawn Staley admits that coaching is much harder than playing basketball

Later on, the article published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2015, South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley admitted that it is much harder to coach than to play basketball, given that before coaching, she was an internationally-recognized women’s basketball player.

“Coaching is much harder than playing.

You’re dealing with young people. You have to have a feel for what they’re feeling. You’re constantly trying to figure out what they’re thinking. You’re constantly trying to figure out the best way to handle different situations,” Staley explained.

Staley then revealed in the article as well that she previously did not want to be a college basketball coach, but could not pass up the opportunity to do exactly that with the Temple Owls in the year 2000. Since then, she has won three national championships with the Gamecocks.

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