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. Do you ever noticed that one thing she always wears? That beaded necklace? Yes, 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 heart of the NCAA tournament, Staley got surprised on ESPN by none other than 7-year-old Blakeleigh Thompson. Blakeleigh who’s currently battling leukemia. The little one made that very necklace Dawn wears courtside. The original one had started to wear out from constant use. So Blakeleigh gifted her a new one this year on live TV. But 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. During one of the visits, Staley 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.
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: NCAA Tournament Birmingham Regional-Elite 8 South Carolina vs Duke Mar 30, 2025 Birmingham, AL, USA South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley argues a call during the first half of an Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the Duke Blue Devils at Legacy Arena. Birmingham Legacy Arena AL USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xVashaxHuntx 20250330_nts_hd1_0050
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 just like last year, this year’s March Madness hasn’t changed that.
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.