If not for the fact that she’s casually out here building a “Dawn dynasty”—yes, three natty titles, one of them undefeated!—you’d still notice Dawn Staley courtside for something else entirely. The drip. The vibe. The fashion. But while most coaches stick to the outfit glam, Dawn brings flair. Did you ever notice that one thing she always wears? That beaded necklace? Well, it’s not just an accessory. It’s a quiet, beautiful reminder of what people off the court are facing every single day.
Remember last March…right in the middle of the NCAA tournament, Staley got surprised on ESPN by none other than 7-year-old Blakeleigh Thompson. The little one, currently battling leukemia, made a necklace for the Gamecocks coach as the original one had started to wear out from constant use. So Blakeleigh gifted her a new one on live TV. It was such a heartwarming moment.
But how this signature necklace wearing tradition started? Let’s rewind a little, because the origin story of the necklace is just as special. Last year, during a Saturday morning SportsCenter spot, Staley was asked about it. And that’s when she dropped this gem of a story. Through her partnership with Aflac, she visited UVA Children’s Hospital—one of many trips she made to connect with young warriors fighting battles far bigger than basketball. That’s where she met another young girl, Blakely, also battling cancer.
“And Aflac has these special ducks,” she shared, talking about the mood ducks used by kids to communicate how they’re feeling when words fail them. The head coach sat down with Blakely as they both made necklaces—Blakely for her duck, and Dawn, inspired by Blakely’s color choices, made one for herself.
Dec 19, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
That necklace she’s worn ever since. Courtside, in interviews, everywhere. It’s her way of saying, “I see you. I carry your story.”And since then, it’s become Staley’s signature accessory with little Thompson making sure she always has a fresh one, gifting her two so far.
Even this year, in South Carolina’s first-round game in Columbia, when asked about her accessories, Staley kept it real. “It’s really just basketball when you put it in perspective of what other people have to go through,” she said. Because while hoops might be her world, she never forgets the world outside it.
Then came this past Saturday, after that nail-biting 71-67 win over Maryland. As she chatted with ESPN ahead of the Elite Eight clash with Duke, there she was again—necklaces on, heart open. And in came a little wave on screen: Blakeleigh, smiling through the fight, saying hello. So sure, Staley might be building a basketball empire. But off the court, she’s building something even more powerful.
The post Dawn Staley Bead Necklace: The Secret Behind South Carolina Coach’s Hidden Message Explored appeared first on EssentiallySports.
