Will Smith had West Philadelphia, but Dawn Staley has North Philly, and you can call her the Queen of Diamond Street. For their final non-conference tune-up, she takes her team back where it all started. But the trip is about more than just the game for South Carolina. It is a return home for Dawn Staley, and a return to the place her coaching career began.
Staley's Homecoming
Staley's story has been well-chronicled. She was raised in the housing projects of North Philadelphia, becoming a star at local Dobbins Tech before going off to Virginia to play in college. Her post-playing career began when Temple's athletics director, Dave O'Brien, convinced Staley to become the head coach of the Owls, despite no coaching experience and the fact that she was still an active WNBA player. Staley became the winningest coach in Temple history before, feeling she had reached the ceiling at Temple, she moved on to South Carolina where she thought she could win a national championship.
Staley had no desire to schedule a homecoming until this year, when the time felt right. Staley is still a legend at Temple and in North Philadelphia, and she is able to return as a conquering hero, with her national championship in tow. She also gets to be in the building when Temple retires the jersey of her best player at Temple, Candice Dupree.
"We wanted to play when the time made sense," Staley said. "When they do that, I wanted to be a part of it. It just kind of happened at this particular time."
Staley insisted when she met with the media that this is just another business trip, but a look at the schedule shows it is anything but. The Gamecocks flew to Philadelphia a full two days early, and Staley has been making one appearance after another.
Staley delivered the ceremonial game ball for the 76ers-Kings game Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning the Gamecocks practice at the Liacouras Center, and then Staley went to the Hank Gathers Recreation Center. The facility was where Staley played basketball growing up and still has a presence - there is mural of her painted on one of the walls. Wednesday, she presented a replica NCAA Championship Trophy that will stay at the recreation center.
Before she could play with the boys at the rec center, Staley hooked a crate to one of the streetlight and shot baskets. When Staley graduated to the rec center, the facility was known as the Moylan Recreation Center. It was later renamed for Gathers, the Philadelphia legend that Staley played pickup games with. Gathers died during a basketball game while playing for Loyola Marymount due to a heart condition. Wednesday, the street in front of the center was renamed Dawn Staley Lane.
The occasion could be overwhelming, but Staley shrugged off the emotions.
"We played in a Final Four, we played in a national championship game, nothing really compares to that stage," Staley said. "If we can compartmentalize on that stage, surely just going back to Philly and playing Temple, we can draw on those experiences."
One for the record books?
Against Temple, Staley will be going for her 232nd win at South Carolina. That would move her past Nancy Wilson as the winningest coach in South Carolina program history. It is a fitting place to go for the record-setting win.
"That's the platform that gave me an opportunity to coach and impact young people's lives on a daily basis," Staley said. "The AD saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. It's always going to be a great place, a special place in my heart. Eighteen years later I'm still doing this and still happily doing this."
No relief
South Carolina will not get any roster relief against Temple. Lindsey Spann still has not practiced due to a sprained left knee, and will not play. She continues to be day-to-day, and Staley is optimistic Spann will be able to return for conference play. Transfer Te'a Cooper is still ineligible, and did not make the trip.
South Carolina filed a waiver this week seeking to have Cooper made eligible immediately, instead of having to sit out the entire season. The argument is that since Cooper missed all of last season due to injury, it would be unfair for her to lose two seasons of eligibility. Staley expects a ruling to be made any day.
"If she sits out another year, she'll only have one year to play, hopefully they'll see that," Staley said. "I hope they consider all of it.
Asked what Cooper would bring to the team, Staley praised her ability to create shots, but was blunt about the numbers involved.
"We just need another body," Staley said.
Dupree's Day
As celebrated as Staley's return is, the game actually belongs to someone else. At halftime, the Owls will retire the number four jersey of Candice Dupree. Dupree played four years under Staley, and finished her career as the Owls' third leading scorer and rebounder.
Dupree has gone on to be a six-time WNBA All-Star (Dupree's first season was Staley's last - they played against each other, including in the All-Star game), a 2014 WNBA Champion, and current teammate of former Gamecock Tiffany Mitchell.
Scouting the Owls
South Carolina and Temple have played just twice before. South Carolina swept that home-and-home series against Staley and Temple in 2001 and 2002.
Temple is coached by Tonya Cardoza. Cardoza was a teammate of Staley's at Virginia, and took over at Temple when Staley moved to South Carolina. She has continued the success Staley began at Temple, making the NCAA Tournament five times. Last season, Cardoza passed Staley to become Temple's all-time winningest coach.
The Owls feature a talented group of freshmen, but they are led by senior forward Tanaya Atkinson. Atkinson is averaging 23.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Atkinson had 30 points and 13 rebounds against Rutgers and has scored at least twenty points in all but one game. The individual matchup against A'ja Wilson should be worth the price of admission (or streaming) alone.
The Ws
Who: #4 South Carolina (10-1) vs Temple (8-3)
When: Thursday, December 21, 7:00 pm
Where: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: ESPN3
