Dawn Staley
Dawn Staley
Dawn Michelle Staley is an American basketball hall of fame player and coach. Staley is a three-time Olympian and was elected to carry the United States flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics. After playing point guard for the University of Virginia under Debbie Ryan, and winning the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics, she went to play professionally in the American Basketball League and the WNBA. In 2011, Staley was voted in by fans as...
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth4 May 1970
CityPhiladelphia, PA
I didn't think we played well. Offensively, we rushed. We gave a lot away.
We attacked, but we couldn't get anything to fall.
If it was one-game elimination, youth would probably win, ... But since it is a series, I like our chances because of our experience in big games games even bigger than the WNBA playoffs.
We are not in the driver's seat. And when you're not in the driver's seat, you got to play hungry every night. And that's what we're doing.
Having grown up in the housing projects of North Philly, I understand the profound value of Olympic dreams.
Our players needed a wakeup call. They can't know how good they can be until they beat a team of this caliber. We had to drive to the basket and we had to exploit their (Rutgers) inability to stop us.
I expect that this level will be the most challenging for me, being on the other side of the whistle. I'm going to approach this challenge the same way that I did as a player, helping Anne in any way that I can and doing whatever it takes to come away with nothing less than the gold.
GW did have a run in them, and we expected that. We were up by eight, and then a minute and a half later, it was gone.
I think most of the players who have jumped from playing to coaching have their egos in check. You played the game at a high level and that brings instant respect, but what you do to maintain that credibility is the key.
When you're faced with this type of situation, it's not going to be easy, ... but it's doable as long as there is time on the clock.
We're not back there with Stony Brook, I can tell you that. Our team lacked leadership in the beginning. It's gotten a lot better in the past six to eight weeks. Candice Dupree has really taken on a vocal role. Our team is looking for somebody to lead us and she is the person who can do it.
We made it dramatic. But that's why Coach (Van) Chancellor and Coach (Bill) Laimbeer made the moves. They knew it wasn't going to be easy. They had the foresight to look at who they were going to be playing the last 10 games.
For the people who know Sheryl, the people that she talks to, she has already confided in them. Now she is just being truthful and honest. It is a personal choice, but not a revelation for those of us who know her.