To my readers: 

I hope that this book inspires you to become whoever you to want to be, take the path less traveled and strive for your definition of excellence.

Dawn Staley was born in 1970 in North Philadelphia to Clarence and Estelle Staley. During her childhood you could find her at the local basketball court playing with the boys. Dawn always knew she wanted to be one of the best female basketball players in history. 

Dawn attended  Dobbins Technical High School. During her final season she was named  national high school player of the year. 

She received a basketball scholarship to play at the University of  Virginia where she studied Rhetoric and Communications. 

During her college career she led her team to four National College Athletic Association (NCAA)  tournaments, 3 Final Fours, and one National Championship Game.

She was named the Atlantic Costal Conference (ACC) player of the year and the national player of the year in 1991 and 1992.

Between 1992-1994, Dawn played professional basketball in France, Italy and Spain. After this she played for the American Basketball League (ABL) and  the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Dawn was the ninth overall pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft and was selected to play for the Charlotte Sting. In 2005 she was traded to the Houston Comets however she announced that after the Comets season she would enter retirement. 

During her basketball career, Dawn was selected to play for Team USA. She was nominated as female athlete of the year and received  3 olympic gold medals in 1996, 2000, and 2004. 

Dawn started her coaching career at Temple University were she turned their women's basketball program around between the years of 2000-2005. 

In 2008, Dawn left Temple and took on the coaching position at The University of South Carolina where she started rebuilding a program from scratch. 

Under Dawn's leadership, the USC women's  basketball team made progress during the 2016-2017 season. Coach Staley helped USC win the universities first ever women's national basketball championship against Mississippi State University.