Dawn Staley is focused on getting another ring, but it’s her necklace that keeps everything in perspective.
After all, basketball is just a game.
Staley’s undefeated South Carolina team is in the midst of an undefeated season and aims to finish the job against Iowa in Sunday’s national championship game. Just one year ago, the Gamecocks fell short against those same Hawkeyes in the Final Four, finishing 36-1 on the season.
The beaded necklace donned by Staley serves as a reminder that while the team wants to reach its ultimate goal, there are plenty of other people going through battles of their own.
The Sporting News examines the meaning behind Staley’s necklace and how it helps her remember what matters.
MORE: Dawn Staley named Sporting News Coach of the Year
What is the meaning behind Dawn Staley’s necklace?
Staley, who has been wearing the necklace all season long, spoke about her latest look during an appearance on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” in March.
Dawn Staley’s necklace she made earlier this summer at the UVA Health Children’s Hospital was beginning to wear.
This morning, she was greeted with a special surprise from one of her favorite people 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/aOKElHZqpn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 23, 2024
“I do have a partnership with Aflac and Aflac has taken me on the road to some incredible places,” Staley said. “They took me back to UVA Children’s Hospital where I got the chance to meet a young lady named Blakely who was going through cancer treatments.
“And Aflac has these special ducks that, when a child cannot express how they are feeling because of their treatment, they utilize these mood ducks that will give the doctors a view of what the child is feeling if they can’t verbalize it.”
The coach participated in a scavenger hunt with patients at the hospital.
“At the end, they were presented with their ducks,” she said. “They were able to, at the very end, make necklaces for their ducks. So I sat with a young lady named Blakely — I’ll never forget her name — and I just used her color scheme that she was using for her necklace, for her duck.”
MORE: Dawn Staley outfits tracker: What South Carolina coach is wearing at each game in March Madness
The colorful piece of jewelry has been a staple on the sidelines for the Gamecocks this season and will remain a fixture for the foreseeable future.
“It gives me perspective,” Staley said. “I mean, what we do is coach this game or play this game, when so many other people are going through much deeper things than us, and they have a much better outlook on it. Blakely, you would have never known what she was going through.”
She was thankful to play a small role in the child’s life, saying she’ll be wearing that necklace until the beads fall off.
At the end of the interview and ahead of the team’s second round matchup, it was revealed that Blakely had a new addition to Staley’s jewelry box.
Dawn Staley’s necklace she made earlier this summer at the UVA Health Children’s Hospital was beginning to wear.
This morning, she was greeted with a special surprise from one of her favorite people 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/aOKElHZqpn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 23, 2024
“Hey Coach Staley, I made you another necklace, I hope you like it,” Blakely said. “Good luck on your game.”
Staley was clearly moved by the gesture, immediately putting on the new one.
Now with double the power, South Carolina will be left to hope that the necklace’s magic carries through into Sunday, where they will look to cap off an undefeated season.
