If not for the fact that she’s casually out here building a “Dawn dynasty”—yes, three natty titles, one of them undefeated!—you’d still notice Dawn Staley courtside for something else entirely. The drip. The vibe. The fashion. But while most coaches stick to the outfit glam, Dawn brings flair. Did you ever notice that one thing she always wears? That beaded necklace? Well, it’s not just an accessory. It’s a quiet, beautiful reminder of what people off the court are facing every single day.

Remember last March…right in the middle of the NCAA tournament, Staley got surprised on ESPN by none other than 7-year-old Blakeleigh Thompson. The little one, currently battling leukemia, made a necklace for the Gamecocks coach as the original one had started to wear out from constant use. So Blakeleigh gifted her a new one on live TV. It was such a heartwarming moment.

But how did this tradition of wearing signature necklaces start? Let’s rewind a little, because the origin story of the necklace is just as special.  Last year, during a Saturday morning SportsCenter spot, Staley was asked about it. And that’s when she dropped this gem of a story. Through her partnership with Aflac, she visited UVA Children’s Hospital—one of many trips she made to connect with young warriors fighting battles far bigger than basketball. That’s where she met another young girl, Blakely, also battling cancer.

“And Aflac has these special ducks,” she shared, talking about the mood ducks used by kids to communicate how they’re feeling when words fail them. The head coach sat down with Blakely as they both made necklaces—Blakely for her duck, and Dawn, inspired by Blakely’s color choices, made one for herself. 

That necklace she’s worn ever since. Courtside, in interviews, everywhere. It’s her way of saying, “I see you. I carry your story.”And since then, it’s become Staley’s signature accessory with little Thompson making sure she always has a fresh one, gifting her two so far.

Even this year, in South Carolina’s first-round game in Columbia, when asked about her accessories, Staley kept it real. “It’s really just basketball when you put it in perspective of what other people have to go through,” she said. Because while hoops might be her world, she never forgets the world outside it.

Also, recently, after that nail-biting win over Maryland, she chatted with ESPN ahead of the Elite Eight clash with Duke. There she was again—necklaces on, heart open. And in came a little wave on screen: Blakeleigh, smiling through the fight, saying hello. ESPN studio host Elle Duncan couldn’t resist the moment and asked Blakeleigh if she wanted to make a pick between the No. 1 seed Gamecocks  and the Blue Devils. Blakeleigh nodded, her smile growing wide. “Who?” Duncan asked. “Coach Staley,” Blakeleigh beamed. Coach Staley responded with a big smile and a heart made with her hands. Adorable!

So sure, Staley might be building a basketball empire. But off the court, she’s building something even more powerful. And the people around her never miss a beat when it comes to making her feel special, gifting her what she loves most: accessories, but with a whole lot more heart and weight (literally!).

Plies put March Madness on a chain for Dawn Staley

You know about Plies, right? Rapper from Fort Myers, former wide receiver at Miami (Ohio), and most importantly a diehard South Carolina women’s basketball fan. He was courtside at the 2024 Final Four, showed up at regular season games, brought Dawn Staley on stage during his Columbia concert last May, and even picked South Carolina over UConn on College GameDay’s women’s basketball debut. 

And recently just before the Gamecocks kicked off their March Madness run this year, Plies did what he always does for his favorite team, he went big. He gifted Coach Dawn Staley a gem-studded chain, and we’re not talking your average bling. The pendant is shaped like the NCAA championship trophy. It has years 2017, 2022, 2024 stamped- you know, the ones where South Carolina went all the way. 

A studded basketball sits on top. And the back has “Dawn Staley / ‘God is within her she will not fail! Psalm 46:50,” write. The Gamecocks coach wore it proudly on the sidelines and then hit Instagram with a heartfelt caption. “I know you didn’t gift me this piece of treasure for anything but love… Thank you for your love, your support & your organic belief in @GamecockWBB. I’ll wear it proudly knowing our mission,” she wrote.  

Plies also went on X saying if he had to describe a hero, it’d be her. That she inspires him. “It’s really nice. It’s all about the details,” Staley smiled after Gamecocks game vs Tennessee Tech. “It’s the national championship trophy. I like that. Hopefully it brings us good luck.” And honestly, with love like that backing her up, luck might not even be necessary.