The City of Columbia is set to unveil a statue honoring Dawn Staley, the legendary coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team, on April 30, 2024. The ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the intersection of Senate Street and Lincoln Street, next to the University of South Carolina’s Pastides Alumni Center.
About the Statue
– The statue is an 11-foot-tall, 1,000-pound tribute to Staley’s achievements as a coach and player, as well as her commitment to community empowerment and leadership.
– It was commissioned in 2023 and arrived in Columbia in August 2024, costing around $140,000, funded by the City of Columbia and Statues for Equality, with contributions from local business leaders.
Significance of the Statue
– The statue recognizes Staley’s impact on and off the court, including her leadership in transforming the South Carolina women’s basketball program into a national powerhouse.
– Staley has led the Gamecocks to three national titles, seven Final Four appearances, and nine SEC regular season championships since joining the program in 2008.
Interesting Facts
– Staley requested that the statue not be placed outside Colonial Life Arena, where the Gamecocks play, to reserve the area for honoring her players, such as A’ja Wilson, who has a statue outside the arena.
– The original plan was to erect the statue across from the South Carolina State House, but the location was moved to Senate and Lincoln streets, which Staley approved of because the State House will be part of the statue’s background ¹ ².
