Dawn Staley to be honored with prestigious ESPY Award
On Thursday, it was announced that South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley will be the recipient for the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at this year’s ESPY Awards.
The three-time national champion coach is being recognized for her work in advocating for cancer research and bone marrow donors. In the past several years, Staley’s sister Tracy Underwood, as well as her friend and former assistant coach, Nikki McCray-Penson were both impacted by cancer. This motivated Staley to become an advocate in cancer research.
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This prestigious award is in honor of North Carolina State men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano. At the 1993 ESPY Awards, Valvano received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Two months after his inspirational “Don’t ever give up speech,” Valavo passed away from adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer. Others who’ve received the award in the past include Stuart Scott, Kay Yow, Dick Vitale, and Jim Kelly. The Jimmy V Award has been awarded annually since 2007.
The Jimmy V Award is one of several awards that has a South Carolina women’s basketball connection. The Gamecocks undefeated national championship team this season is up for the “Beat Team.” South Carolina joins former Gamecock Aj’a Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces (WNBA), the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), the Boston Celtics (NBA), the Texas Rangers (MLB), the Florida Panthers (NHL), the Michigan Wolverines (NCAA Football), the UConn Huskies (NCAA Men’s Basketball), and the Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA Softball). Like South Carolina, all of the teams listed in this category won championships during their 2023-24 seasons.
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Additionally, Wilson is up for a pair of individual honors. Below are the categories she’s up for and a list of the individuals she’s been nominated with.
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Best WNBA Player
– A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
– Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
– Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
– Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Best Athlete: Women’s Sports
– A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
– Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s Basketball
– Coco Gauff, Tennis
– Nelly Korda, Golf
The award show is set to be held on July 11 in Los Angeles. Hosted by tennis icon Serena Williams, it’ll air at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
