A diamond-studded exchange with Dawn Staley

Story by Josefina Loza, Photo Courtesy of EPIC for Girls by Phil Hodges of The Hodges House.

Rarely do I “fan-girl”. I mean, if ever.

I didn’t during an exclusive radio interview with Lady Gaga or backstage with Pitbull or Mary J. Blige or Lil Wayne or T.I. Nor did I with Kevin Heart or Mike Epps or 2 Live Crew or Ice Tea or Neyo, but I have tons of funny stories.

Not even with Trina or Nas or Ice Cube or Bone Thugz & Harmony. Nope. Not I. 

Not for Eminem, Chris Brown, Demi Lovato or Daddy Yankee. 

Maybe a little for my sorority sister when we met Kat Von D during a meet-and-greet.

I didn’t beg for photos with Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez or Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, for that matter. 

My dad - a sports fanatic- had me ask Nebraska sports greats Tom Osborne, Johnny Rodgers, Ahman Green, and Joba Chamberlin for signatures. (It was so embarrassing but anything for my Pops.)

I didn’t get all weird while chopping it up with pro athletes Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) at our Berkshire Hathaway stockholders meeting or Dwayne Wade during a College World Series game.

Not even after dancing my heart out for la musica norteña legends like Los Tigres del Norte or Los Tucanes de Tijuana. And “La Chona” is one of my absolute favorite songs. So, why did I for South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley?

She’s a titan in sports. On and off the court.

A three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player and as head coach of Team USA, Staley’s led the South Carolina Gamecocks to two NCAA women’s basketball championships in the last six years, named a Naismith Coach of the Year - and the accolades keep coming. 

But her reach goes beyond being the face of women’s basketball, she’s a passionate advocate for racial justice and equal pay. In fact, she used her clout to draw daily attention to Brittney Griner’s wrongful detainment until the WNBA star was released. 

Staley has the “come up” of all come-up stories. 

While speaking to nearly 600 people in attendance at the EPIC for Girls fundraising luncheon “An EPIC Day with Dawn Staley,” she passed along a bit of advice set by her “God-fearing, praying mother” as she grew up in the housing projects of Philadephia.

“The disciplined person can do anything,” she said to the crowd.

Whoa! She spoke to me. She spoke to us all - from young female athletes to working professionals trying to get ahead in life. 

Staley who calls herself a “dream merchant,” is determined to show everyone, especially children who look like her, that starting from the bottom doesn’t mean you’ll finish there.

That’s why I admire her so incredibly much. She owns her truth and inspires others to chase their dreams. Right down to sharing her wins with others. 

After South Carolina’s women’s basketball team won its first national championship in 2017, she continued a tradition by sending a piece of the championship net to 70 Black female head coaches across the country. One of those women who received the nylon net was Carrie Banks, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s women’s basketball head coach. 

Once I learned that Staley was going to be the keynote speaker for EPIC’s event, I couldn’t help but research and share my findings with my teenage daughters. If you haven’t already, watch the ESPN story “Net Worth: What Dawn Staley Did with the Net AFTER the Win.” It’s an incredible feature that pieces together why Staley is such a powerhouse.

While thrifting for “bougie gems” with my daughters, I came across a vintage gold Park Lane Sneaker brooch encrusted with several cubic zirconias. It was $6.99. 

“Mom, you have to get it,” my eldest daughter said. “You should give it to her [Dawn Staley] when she’s in town.”

“I don’t know,” I told my girls. “I don’t want to come off as a weirdo.”

You won’t, they said.

The morning of the event, I debated wearing the brooch or placing it in a jewelry box to gift her. I didn’t want to come off as a “groupie.” So, I thought it would be best to just sport it and if the opportunity presented itself then gift her the brooch.

Oddly enough, I had completely forgotten about the brooch as I was busying myself with media relations duties for EPIC for Girls making sure that reporters, photographers, and videographers had checked in. During the VIP meet-and-greet, I had an opportunity to meet Staley and get a quick photo snapped. 

After the photo, she turned to me and said, “I like that.” Pointing down toward the brooch. Oh, damn, I forgot I had it on my person. 

“Really,” I asked. She nodded. 

“Would you like it,” I asked.

“I can’t take that from you,” Staley said. “It’s yours.”

“Not really,” I laughed. “My daughters and I got it for you but didn’t want to be weird about giving it to you.”

“Would you pin it on me,” Staley asked.
“Absolutely,” I said. 

Staley then wrapped her arms around me, gave me the biggest hug, and said: “Tell your girls, I said thank you,” 

I nodded and texted my daughters immediately after the encounter.

“See, Mom,” my youngest daughter said. “Everything has its rightful owner.”

Indeed, sweetie. Indeed.