USC’s Dawn Staley talks life philosophy, equal pay at Columbia Black Expo
University of South Carolina women’s head basketball coach Dawn Staley used a conversation at Columbia’s Black Expo to reflect on faith, the program’s championship run and the work she says it takes to advocate for women — on and off the court.
Staley, introduced at the event as a “three-time champion coach,” discussed the phrase “uncommon favor,” which she has used publicly since her 2024 national championship title. She described it as blessings that are difficult to explain — “somehow bestowed on you” — and linked it to lessons she said she learned after South Carolina’s 2023 team fell short despite going into the Final Four undefeated.
But in 2024, Staley said the Gamecocks did something that had never happened in her career: the team completed an entire season undefeated.
“I do think that was the Lord just saying, ‘I can show you better than I can tell you,’” she said.
During the onstage interview, Staley also talked about the themes in her book, also titled “Uncommon Favor,” which she said centers on “13 life lessons” taught by what she called three pillars: basketball, her upbringing in North Philadelphia and her mother.
Staley said her mother’s work ethic shaped how she approaches her own profession.
“She sacrificed her needs to give her kids their wants — not just their needs,” Staley said, describing her mother cleaning houses when Staley was young.
Staley said she would not change growing up in “the projects” in North Philly, describing it as a foundation for who she is now. Basketball, she added, helped guide her decisions and provided protection.
“My neighborhood guys made sure they protected me from any negative things,” she said.
‘Risk it all’ for equal pay
Asked about advocacy and self-worth, Staley recounted the process she followed as she sought equal pay.
She described comparing the women’s program’s sustained success with pay growth on the men’s side and said the pay disparity “didn’t quite sit well.” Staley said she viewed the matter as a question of principle.
Staley said she ultimately asked her agent to “stand down” and hired a local lawyer who understood the university’s decision-makers and community dynamics.
“It took about six months to get it done,” Staley said.
Now earning $4 million a year, Staley is the highest paid college women’s basketball coach in the country.
She emphasized patience and the value of having both “mentors” and “sponsors” — people who support you day-to-day and people “in the room where the decisions are being made.”
“The facts will speak for themselves,” Staley said, adding that she tries to let emotions subside before returning to the facts.
A message about respect and community
Near the close of the conversation, Staley credited Columbia’s support for helping sustain her tenure — now 18 years — and said the community’s relationship with the women’s basketball program is something she feels she cannot repay.
She also thanked Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann for his visibility in the community and discussed the perspective she said persuaded her to accept a statue honoring her.
Staley said the mayor told her that women account for about “4% of all statues” worldwide, and that for Black women, the share is even smaller.
“I really can’t believe it,” she said of the statue.
Staley ended with advice she attributed to one of the program’s fans, who said the quote came from his grandmother: “When you treat people good, they treat you better.”
“That sums up my entire career,” she said.
Columbia Black expo
The Columbia Black expo is an annual gathering at the S.C. State Fair Grounds, featuring community leaders, celebrities, food, education, inspiration and countless vendors — all aimed at empowering the capitol city’s Black community.
This year marked the event’s 29th anniversary and, besides Staley, included a “fireside chat” with actor Jonathan Majors from MGM’s “Creed III,” HBO’s “Lovecraft County” and Netflix’s “The Harder They Fall,” among many others.
The expo also included live music performances by Dee-1, Steve Ray Ladson and Lisa Knowles Smith and the Brown Singers.
The event was sponsored by a plethora of big-name entities, including Dominion Energy, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of S.C., the University of South Carolina, Food Lion, Truist Bank and several others.
Rickenmann described the expo as “such a great event” that highlights “diversity.”
“Black Expo brings a lot of opportunity for us to be exposed to a lot of businesses, tying us in the community to small businesses here, making sure that diversity is seen and that everybody has an opportunity,” Rickenmann said.
This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM.
