“You have to do what you don’t want to do to get what you want” – is the mantra Dawn Staley has lived by all these years. Perhaps she caught on to this from her mother, Estelle, whose unwavering faith paved the way for Dawn’s blessed success. Today, she is one of the most celebrated figures in the realm of basketball. Both as a player and a coach, her impact and contributions to the game have been immeasurable. In her career of nearly 3 decades, Staley has touched so many lives and guided countless girls like A’ja Wilson to have that faith and belief in themselves.

Simply put, Dawn Staley is the embodiment of that old phrase – “You give what you have within.” However, it was Staley’s parents and family that molded her into the inspiration that she is today. So, let’s look back and explore how her parents became her source of strength and resilience through the years.

Meet Clarence and Estelle Staley

Behind Dawn Staley’s magnificence lies a story of her upbringing, including the influential figures in her life, her parents, who shaped her journey. It is important to understand their values and work ethic to truly appreciate their contribution and dedication towards their daughter.

It was in the 1950s when Clarence and Estelle Staley were still teenagers. They moved from Orangeburg County, South Carolina to North Philadelphia. The two ended up marrying each other at a young age and moved into a three-bedroom, single-bath row house in the Raymond Rosen Homes housing project in 1967.

Professionally, Clarence was a part-time carpenter while Estelle was a homemaker who raised their five children – Lawrence, Anthony, Eric, Tracey, and Dawn. Both Clarence and Estelle valued good education and sports as essential elements of a successful life.

The couple was committed to nurturing their children’s interests, which in turn helped Dawn to develop her love for basketball. They always encouraged her to go after her dreams despite the challenges she might come across.

Estelle, as a mother, played a crucial role as a pillar of strength for Staley. She guided her to be the best version of herself. This gave Dawn a boost of confidence, backed by her abilities and skills. Estelle motivated her to push all the boundaries and her support for her daughter was visible as she would attend every game and practice and celebrated her daughter’s achievements while providing the right guidance.

Similarly, Clarence was another significant figure in Staley’s upbringing, as his passion for sports and work ethic became one of the major sources of inspiration for Staley. As a result, she always tried to bring out that excellence in all of her athletic endeavors.

Moreover, Clarence taught his daughter the value of hard work and discipline, as one of the basic factors that served as a strong foundation for her success. But it was his tough love that truly brought out the best in Staley as always pushed her to give her best despite the circumstances.

While Clarence passed away in 2006 due to an illness and Estelle in 2017, there were 4 things that Dawn’s parents instilled in her belief system, i.e. hard work, perseverance, self-belief, and community. And now, she is giving it all back to make a positive difference.

Dawn Staley paving the way for the younger generation

Having those 4 principles instilled in her values, Dawn Staley has been paving the way for little girls and boys just like her when she was a little girl. Resonating with this vision, Staley said in an interview last year, “I know where I came from, I know the limitations that are placed on people who grow up like I grew up and I know the hopelessness that’s in our communities.”

As a result, she has been a constant ray of hope for the young children, letting them know that an amazing world exists outside that they need to explore and be a part of. That’s why she said, “The best way to do that is discipline, and if you don’t have a sport, use education as your guide.”

However, Staley’s efforts weren’t limited to the younger generation. One of the proudest moments of Staley’s life has been her ability to look after her mother. Before Estelle’s passing in 2017, Dawn Staley cared for her just like a mother would care for her little child.

Staley made her happy, happy that she didn’t have to work, that she could go to church, give whatever she could to the little kids there, happy that she had her family, grand and great-grandkids to shower love upon.