In a game between the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever that ended 113-96 in favor of the Dream, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was among the viewers of the game. She also met her former players, who were all part of the game.

Multiple NCAA champion Staley witnessed her former players, Allisha Gray, Te-Hina Paopao, Madina Okot, from the Dream, and Aliyah Boston, Raven Johnson, Bree Hall, and Tyasha Harris from Indiana, in the game on Saturday, June 20.

Staley sat courtside to support her former players and also brought the current South Carolina women's basketball team to watch the game. After the game ended, she was seen meeting the Dream stars Gray, Paopao, and rookie Okot. WNBA also posted it on X.

She also posted a picture of the Fever's Johnson and the Dream's PaoPao on X and wrote, "When championship teammates become opponents = must be @GamecockWBB! I love it here!! @HollywoodRaven @tehinapaopaoo"

Staley not only has these seven players in the league but has also coached three-time WNBA champion A’ja Wilson, veteran Kamilla Cardoso, Laeticia Amihere, Zia Cooke, Sania Feagin, and rookie Ta’Niya Latson.

Furthermore, with all of these great players being coached by Staley, she solidifies her place as one of the most influential people in sports. Don't believe us? A certain magazine has recently given her this honor.

Dawn Staley's Achievements Put Her In A Prestigious List Of Sports

On June 9, TIME honored Staley by including her name in The 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026, alongside legends like LeBron James and Caitlin Clark.

This honor comes after Staley has achieved numerous accolades. She has won the NCAA championship three times 2017, 2022, and 2024 while also reaching the NCAA championship game five times. Staley has also reached the NCAA Final Four a total of eight times.

She has coached South Carolina from 2008-09 to the present, winning 10 regular-season championships and the Conference Tournament nine times. Staley has a 54-17 record in the NCAA championships.

She has been the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year eight times, and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year four times. She has also been the Naismith Coach of the Year four times and has won the AP Coach of the Year and the A-10 Coach of the Year two times each.

Staley and the South Carolina team are currently preparing for the 2026-27 season and will be looking to avenge their losses in the NCAA Final Four in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Read more at Her Sports Nation!

Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi