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Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Aliyah Boston's peace used to depend on basketball. Now it doesn't, and it's paying off for 3-time All-Star
INDIANAPOLIS – Aliyah Boston sits courtside at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. She just finished her pregame warm-up and it's about an hour before the Indiana Fever tip off against the Las Vegas Aces in an early July matchup. Roughly halfway through her five-minute conversation with IndyStar, the Fever forward shifts the topic from basketball to books. Boston recently finished the "Housemate" book series and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley's "Uncommon Favor". Her next book delivery will include "Variety", "Too Late" and the "Silent Patient" all packed with psychological thrill and suspense. "The crazy stuff? Yeah, that's me," Boston says. Reading is Boston's way of getting away. Away from the pressure. Not only from the external pressure basketball brings, but also the internal pressure she places on herself to be perfect. That's the battle for Boston. Perfectionism versus grace. In her first two years in the WNBA, Boston would often condemn herself after missed shots or poor performances. However, in Year 3, the young woman from the U.S. Virgin Islands has learned how to walk in grace. 'You feel like nothing is good enough. You always put that pressure on yourself to a point where you almost take yourself out of the game before you're even out of there,' Boston said about the dangers of perfectionism. 'As a perfectionist, I always have to be great in everything I do, and sometimes that's taken me out of rhythm because I'm like 'Why am I messing up, why am I messing up?' 'When in reality, it's a basketball game and you should not rely on basketball for your happiness. That's something in this third season, I've gotten a lot better at.' Boston airballed a 3 to close the half in the July 3 matchup against the Aces. She responded with a smile and shared a high five with teammate Kelsey Mitchell —a small moment, but a mark of immense progress. Recognizing every day she's able to play basketball as a blessing has helped Boston combat invasive thoughts. She's become more patient with herself and if there's a mishap, there's a simple antidote. 'Go back to work,' she said. "Basketball is a game. Sometimes it goes your way, and sometimes it doesn't.' Fever coach Stephanie White said she talked with Boston at the beginning of the offseason about her being used as a 'hub.' White and the Fever recognized Boston played with her back to the basket in Year 1 and wanted to utilize Boston as a decision-maker this year. White called Boston a 'high IQ' player and admitted at the beginning of the season, her star player deferred 'too much' to facilitating. The two had a conversation in which White reminded Boston although she trusts her to make the right pass, she urged her to take advantage of scoring opportunities. The three-time WNBA All-Star is averaging 15.6 points per game and 3.7 assists, both career-highs. Boston is also averaging a career low in turnovers with 1.4 per game. To White, Boston's patience with herself has contributed to a stellar season. 'She's a Type A perfectionist and wants everything to go right all the time, so she's hard on herself. Your greatest strength can sometimes be your greatest weakness,' White said. 'Giving herself grace, allowing herself to go through that, recognize that, and letting it go has helped her bounce back.' Aces forward A'ja Wilson is familiar with the pressure Boston feels. Wilson and Boston are products of Staley's decorated South Carolina program. In her first six seasons, Wilson won three MVPs and two WNBA championships. While Wilson said Staley prepared all her players to 'be the best pros we can be,' she empathized with Boston's early career experience. 'You've got to know how to carry yourself in different spaces, and that's something I see in Aliyah with how she's handled herself in this franchise and throughout the league,' Wilson told IndyStar. 'And it's not easy every single day waking up and being the star or the big that everyone relies on, but she still shows up and does that every single day.' As Boston navigates her fight with perfection, she has helped her teammates process their mental struggles. Forward Natasha Howard shot 28% from the free-throw line in the first six games this season. In the past 10 games, Howard is shooting 85% from the charity stripe. The three-time WNBA champion credited Boston for her improvement. 'She would tell me, 'Get out of your head. It's that little voice in the back of your head telling you you ain't gon' make it, so block that out and tell yourself you're going to make these free throws.' 'I've been making my free throws ever since she told me that,' Howard said with a laugh. Though learning how to give herself grace took time, extending it toward others was never an issue for Boston. When Mitchell's father died unexpectedly in March 2024, the Fever guard said Boston was there in 'every way' and said having genuine people like Boston during that season 'feels good.' 'Partnerships are always impactful, and when you can have a good bond with your teammates and sisterhood along with that, it's a great thing to have. You don't find it often,' Mitchell told IndyStar. 'So when you find good, genuine people like AB, you grow to accept and love people like her.' Boston's positive reputation stems back to her high school days at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. Worcester girls basketball coach Dan Sullivan coached the boys team during Boston's time at the private school, but was her advisor on her senior project, which focused on media broadcasting. With the likes of Staley and Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma attending her games, all the lights were on Boston. However, Sullivan said Boston tried to deflect conversations about herself while on campus. She cared more about her friends, teammates and school life. 'She was friends with everyone on campus and her lively personality endeared her to the community,' Sullivan said. 'If not for her height, you wouldn't think she was a basketball player because she never talked about the attention and the recruiting.' Wayne Bolden was Boston's assistant coach at Worcester. He echoed Sullivan's remarks. 'She knew she was gifted but didn't necessarily show it,' Bolden said. 'She just went out and was a person on campus.' Boston joined South Carolina in 2019. She led the Gamecocks to a national title in 2022 and was a two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year during her four years under Staley. The Fever drafted Boston with the first overall pick in 2023. Upon entering the WNBA, Boston had to re-learn who she was. 'Coming out of college, your identity is basketball because that's what you do,' Boston said. 'Fresh off a national championship, Aliyah was a college superstar that had to figure out the new world that doesn't involve text books. Coming into this new world was just finding who I am and what I like to do. 'When you get into the real world, outside of college basketball, there's so many opportunities to change who you are to fit in, to be liked by everyone and that's never been a priority for me. Who I am is who I am. Those I attract are meant for me and those that I don't it's okay.' With stardom comes a temptation to change that Boston hasn't succumbed to. But the internal wrestle between perfectionism and grace will undoubtedly continue. After all, Boston is an athlete. More so, she's human. And woven into human nature is a desire to be the best. But day by day, that fight gets a little easier for Boston as she remembers her skill and on-court performance don't determine her greatness. Greatness is already in her. 'Every morning I get up and I listen to my devotionals. A scripture I've been holding to this season is, 'If God is in her, she shall not fail,'' Boston said. 'Whether that's a basketball win or loss, you just think that, 'God is with me no matter what and every trial, every tribulation is to work out for your good.' 'This life I'm living is a blessing, not just to be an athlete but to be a role model to other people and to live out my dream, which is playing professional basketball.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dawn Staley News Emerges on Wednesday
Dawn Staley News Emerges on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Dawn Staley has created one of the best teams in women's basketball during her time with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Staley has consistently helped South Carolina compete for a national title. Advertisement Last season, the Gamecocks made their way to the title game but ended the season losing to the UConn Huskies in the final game of the NCAA Tournament. While Staley and her players work toward vengeance, looking to get back to the mountaintop, the Gamecocks head coach made a big move outside of the white lines. Staley released her book, "Uncommon Favor," on May 20. On Wednesday, Staley revealed that "Uncommon Favor" has made the New York Times best sellers list, currently ranked at No. 10. "Evening my good peeps," Staley said. "My Uncommon Favor peeps! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We did it again! Unbelievably grateful for your uncommon support and uncommon love in making this happen again! UNCOMMON FAVOR has made the @nytbestsellers_ list this week!" Advertisement In the official rankings for the New York Times best sellers, Dawn Staley's book is described as a memoir, describing her journey in basketball. "The three-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA All-Star, who is the head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, describes obstacles she encountered on and off the court." South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Dawn Staley has been with the South Carolina Gamecocks since 2008. During her time at South Carolina, Staley has led the women's basketball program to three national titles, seven Final Four appearances, nine SEC regular season titles and nine SEC tournament titles. Advertisement Related: South Carolina Turns Heads After Team GPA Under Dawn Staley Surfaces Related: Departing South Carolina Player's Dad Sends Strong Message to Dawn Staley This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What's in your cart? Shop rest and recovery must-haves from Sha'Carri Richardson
The track star shares what helps her slow down when she's not leaving competitors in the dust. Sha'Carri Richardson lives her life full-speed ahead—especially on the track. But off? The fastest woman in the world knows the power of a full stop. Whether she's sinking into an ice bath after a good workout, or sinking her teeth into a plate of homemade fries made by her grandmother—whom she affectionately calls "Big Momma"—the athletic superstar has no problem slowing down from time to time. While her speed might be superhuman, Richardson's favorite ways to slow down and relax are pretty normal; from a little self-care and a good book, to indulging on some sweet or savory snacks. NEXT RACE: Sha'Carri Richardson headlines the 2025 Prefontaine Classic. Here's how to watch Here's a look at some of Sha'Carri Richardson's secrets to taking things slow: Beat the sweat and sun with a little self-care One of the first steps in her routine is washing off the sweat and sunscreen after a long day. To do it, Richardson reaches for her Olay Cleansing Melts. They are TSA-friendly, which is a must when you're flying from Tokyo to Dallas, then to Eugene, Oregon for your next race. Get inspired with some light reading Richardson loves a good book, often picking up the Bible or other staple reads. Currently at the top of her reading list? Uncommon Favor by Dawn Staley (yes, THAT Dawn Staley) and Dear Black Girls by two-time WNBA champion A'ja Wilson. Are we surprised at all that she finds inspiration in two other phenomenal women in the sports world? Richardson said both books were gifted to her by the authors themselves. READ THESE TITLES AND MORE: Kindle Unlimited gives you access to over 4 million titles. Try it for free for 30 days Take your sweet time with a chocolate turtle "Turtles chocolate was always a favorite in my house—classic, rich and worth taking a moment to pause," Richardson said. "For me, it's not just candy—it's about connection. Every time I have Turtles, it takes me back, keeps me grounded and reminds me to slow down and celebrate wins, both big and small." Rest and recover with ice—and lots of it What is a power athlete without an ice bath to recover? Sha'Carri Richardson's recovery tactics involve a little bit of heat and a little bit of ice—no matter if she's feeling a dip in a ReddyIce packed tub or a moment to slow down in the sauna. But, ice comes in many forms. Richardson was among the first batch of athletes to test Nike's new Hyperboot by Nike Hyperice, and now they're a regular part of her recovery process. 'As a sprinter, every millisecond matters," Richardson said. "So having my feet and ankles already activated helps me prepare to perform at my best.' NIKE GEAR: Nike's newest "So Win" gear features Olympic gold medalist Sha'Carri Richardson Looking good on and off the track Richardson loves a good self-care moment, which includes slowing down and taking a seat to get her hair done. She recently launched her own extensions brand, Flow & Go, to keep her looking good on and off the track. What to know about Sha'Carri Richardson's partnership with Turtles Turtles surveyed over 2,000 adults in the United States and found that over 93% of Millennial and Gen Z Americans feel like they're living a hectic lifestyle and don't have enough time to slow down. And when they do find time to slow down, over 83% feel happier, calmer or more present. So, Turtles, the original caramel nut cluster and OG of slow since 1916, is partnering with the fastest woman in the world, Olympic Gold medalist, and current 100m World Champion, Sha'Carri Richardson on the 'It's Slow Good' campaign. The goal is for Richardson and Turtles to help connect to a culture obsessed with speed and hustle to slow down, and maybe enjoy something sweet to help you do that. While slowing down can feel like a luxury, it doesn't have to when you're finding small ways to take a break from our hectic lifestyles.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Major Dawn Staley Announcement Made on Wednesday
Major Dawn Staley Announcement Made on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Dawn Staley just concluded another college basketball season with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Staley led South Carolina to the national title game after an incredible run all season. Advertisement While the Gamecocks were in position to earn a national title, they were blown out by the UConn Huskies, capping off their season with an 82-59 loss. After the season, Staley has been quite busy. She recently dropped her newest book, "Uncommon Favor," a memoir of her career as a coach and player. Amid the hype of the book's release, Staley also made an interesting career decision. According to Lulu Kesin, Staley will serve as an analyst on the new CBS Sports WNBA pregame show, debuting on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Staley will be on the panel with Sarah Kustok and Renee Montgomery. The South Carolina head coach will also be on the microphone with pregame coverage on July 12, August 9 and Aug. 16. Before losing to the UConn Huskies in the national title game, South Carolina defeated Tennessee Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Duke and Texas in the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement The Gamecocks were led by Joyce Edwards, who posted 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Chloe Kitts also had a great season for South Carolina, averaging 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley is stepping into new Lee-Imagn Images Dawn Staley has been with the South Carolina Gamecocks since 2008. Since accepting the head coaching job at South Carolina, Staley has led the Gamecocks to three national titles, seven Final Four appearances, nine SEC regular season championships and nine SEC Tournament titles. Related: Mike Krzyzewski Names Best Player in Duke Basketball History Without Hesitation Related: Big UConn Announcement Turns Heads on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Elle
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Elle
Dawn Staley Wants Women Coaches to Get Paid ‘What We Deserve'
Despite being shy growing up, Dawn Staley was damned if she was going to let it derail her dreams of becoming an Olympian. The exceptionally reserved girl from Philadelphia never wavered in her drive to play professional women's basketball—this at a time when there wasn't even such a thing as the WNBA. She intercepted any bouts of shyness by keeping her eye on the endgame: representing her country at the Olympic Games. The strategy worked: Staley, 55, has four gold medals to her name: three as an athlete and one as head coach for the United States national team (among a myriad of other accolades). 'I am terminally shy but I've had enough experiences to be 'on,' whenever I need to be 'on,'' she says. Being 'on' isn't just about playing or talking game: to Staley, it also means pushing back against anything that doesn't align with her values as a Black woman about the game. 'I don't mind fighting,' she writes in her new memoir, As a girl, Staley resided with her family in the Raymond Rosen housing projects of North Philly, but really, she lived mostly inside her shell. Being the youngest of five children in the row home meant there was a lot of back and forth: everything was a competition and she was always on the losing end. It could be anything from who got into the bathroom first in the mornings to who got hold of the phone in the evenings. 'I may have been born competitive, but my environment definitely added fuel to that fire,' she writes. Because she ranked at the bottom of the family hierarchy, the introvert in her didn't mind being invisible: 'I was intensely withdrawn.' Courtesy of Dawn Staley Staley in the sixth grade. Staley didn't catch her personality from her mother. Estelle Staley was a sociable, active member of the community. 'My mother loved people,' she says. 'She did anything for anybody—to a fault. People would take advantage of her and she knew it. But she allowed it to happen because she made that choice. Her heart was in the right place.' On home turf, however, nobody got past Estelle. If a child whose turn it was that week to do the dishes didn't do them by the time she returned from her job of cleaning houses, the dishes were literally dropped to the floor one by one. That meant twice the amount of cleanup for the culprit. The confining nature of her chaotic, crammed household compelled Staley to express herself, at least physically, elsewhere: on the local basketball court. 'Basketball was me talking,' she writes in Uncommon Favor . 'I was free. There was room for me to breathe…To release the person I longed to be.' As a die-hard Philadelphia 76ers fan, 'The only thing I really looked at growing up was the NBA,' she tells me. 'I only dreamt of things I saw.' Observing Hank Gathers in the flesh fueled the 11-year-old Staley's growing obsession. Gathers, the late college basketball player for the Loyola Marymount Lions in the West Coast Conference (WCC) where he was named Player of the Year, grew up in the same housing projects as Staley. 'We used to go to the same rec center,' she explains. The 6-foot-7 star player would play hard but was soft on the kids who came in the way of their games, primarily Staley. 'If Hank and his friends were playing on one side of the court, I would run out on the side of the basket that they weren't playing,' she says. 'But they would hurry up and come back down in a fast break situation so I would try and scoop my ball off the court before I interrupted their game.' Courtesy of Dawn Staley Staley with her mother at a mural dedication. Gathers, who would collapse on the college court at 23 years old from a heart condition ('He took his last breath doing the very thing he loved,' Staley recalls), took notice of Staley's own talent and would persuade the other guys to let her play with them. Joining the big boys at the rec center made Staley naively believe she could one day play with the big boys in the NBA. 'When I'm growing up I'm working towards being a point-guard for the Sixers. As I got older, I realized that wasn't in the cards, so then what was the next thing? It was something I could see other women doing and that's where my goals of going to college and playing basketball at that level came from,' she says. 'It gave me a path to follow and it helped me to stay focused away from the many distractions that the Raymond Rosen projects presented.' Staley started to see proof that she was on the right path as early as in eighth grade: a letter of interest from Dartmouth College. In retrospect, she can see that the letter was simply an invitation to a basketball camp—one of hundreds sent to students all over the country—but at the time, Staley saw it as the first step on the ladder to her destiny. One thing led to another. During a summer-league tournament game at Temple McGonigle Hall while she was a student at FitzSimon's Junior High School, Staley scored 25 points with 10 assists and 10 steals. John Chaney, the men's basketball coach was so impressed with her game that she was invited to join his weeklong co-ed basketball camps. There, she found herself in new company among peers who were determined to play. Staley did more than that: She pushed her team to go harder and be better. The meeting with Chaney would become even more momentous: Years later she would coach alongside him when she took over the Temple Owls as coach. 'I realized I had to 'play ball' to play ball.' Because winning was all-important, she had no problem being coachable. Getting along with the girls on her team was a whole other story. As she transitioned from competing with boys to playing on all-female squads, Staley felt her female peers were disappointing. They were so much softer than her: Staley's passes were harder and she'd roll her eyes at the girls who would wince and shake their hands from the sting of the ball when it was passed to them. She felt they weren't as serious about the game as she was. 'I'd been forged on the courts of the projects, going up against all the dudes…I had to prove myself and be exponentially better just to get an invite to the party,' she writes. Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three Now 10% Off Soon enough, she started playing with girls in her own league. When she was in her early teens, Philadelphia broadcasting agent Sonny Hill invited Staley to play in his regional competitions. The girls she came up against were made of the same mettle she was—likewise legends in the making: Yolanda Laney, Linda 'Hawkeye' Page, and Marilyn Stephens-Franklyn. She also joined travel teams (Estelle forced Staley's older sister, Tracey, to drive her to all the games) which gave her a feel for all kinds of different venues and crowds, helping her to become a well-rounded player. By the time she started high school at Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School, Staley was already considered one of the best players in the country, averaging 34 points per game. Her team didn't lose one game her whole high school career and she won the title of national high school player of the year. During this rise, Staley was inundated with hundreds of letters from colleges as well as solicitations from recruiters. The University of Virginia and Pennsylvania State University, both of which had been courting her since eighth grade, were the top contenders on her list. She ended up going with a scholarship from UVA because she didn't want to go to a school that had already won a national championship. 'I wanted to be part of building a legacy.' Courtesy of Temple University Staley coaching on the sidelines at Temple University. In college, her head was too much in the game. Other aspects of her life suffered as a result: she was antisocial and her grades were far from great. This put her scholarship in peril and when she was summoned to the dean's office, where Debbie, her coach, told her to charm and connect with him so that she wouldn't be kicked out. Staley couldn't even make eye contact. After some pleasantries, the dean told her she would have to start conforming to the way things were done at UVA. It didn't seem to matter that she was a once-in-generation point-guard. The North Philly in her did not take to the word conform. She was not about to 'kiss the asses of these preppy white people, these elitist jerks.' In retrospect, she says that word choice is everything. Had the dean used the words 'adjust' or 'pivot,' Staley might have been more receptive in the moment. 'But this was 1989. Coaches and deans…weren't amending their vernacular to avoid offending kids. It was a different time. Nobody cared if you were insulted or hurt,' she writes. Debbie had to do some major damage control. Still, Staley knew she had to get it together. 'I realized I had to 'play ball' to play ball.' When she graduated in 1992, the opportunities for women to play ball were limited. Staley remembers a male counterpart who was the men's 1992 college player of the year: he had signed a deal with the NBA for $80 million. Staley, on the other hand, was working in retail folding shirts, earning a couple hundred dollars a week. There was no WNBA and she had bills to pay: 'I was surviving,' she says. She was already feeling disheartened: a few months prior she had gone to an Olympic training center to compete for a position on the women's basketball team. She thought she had it, but she was cut from the list. The decision seemed political. 'I couldn't say anything but my bubble was talking huge,' she says. 'They told me I was too short and that I didn't have enough international experience. Yeah well, they put somebody on the team who was shorter than me and who had never gone overseas to play. But here's the thing: I can say it's political and do nothing, or I can do something about it.' Staley couldn't do anything about her 5-foot, 5-inch height, but she could build herself up overseas. While she waited for a position to open up, she continued at her retail job and kept herself basketball-ready, but she also worked on developing better mental strength and getting rid of residual anger. Finally five months later, a shot at a position in Segovia, Spain opened up. 'I didn't want to look back. I wanted to share that space and pour that energy into my players.' Three years of playing abroad brought just as many gold medals—one of them her first Olympic gold in the Atlanta 1996 Games. She remembers practically swaying with excitement as the Olympic medal staff went down the U.S. team line. As they were about to adorn the medal around her neck, Staley couldn't contain herself: 'Give me mine! Give me mine!' she repeated over and over. 'It was so North Philly of me,' she recalls with amusement. Later, she would give that gold medal to her mother. A couple of weeks after winning, Staley remembers feeling a depression sinking in. The world expected her to be celebrating, but she didn't want to move her body even one iota. She had achieved her lifelong dream, so now what? The competitive edge seemed to evade her. Staley's American Basketball League (ABL) coach was supportive and encouraged her to take some time for herself instead of getting right back to training, despite the pressure to do so. Staley has always remembered that kindness and has made it her mandate to pay it forward. The game went on. A couple of years after the WNBA was created, Staley was selected in the 1999 draft—she would become a five-time WNBA All-Star—playing mostly for the Charlotte Sting but also for the Houston Comets. Not long after, she also became head coach at Temple University. Two more Olympic golds were added to her arsenal: Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Courtesy of Dawn Staley Staley in Philadelphia with her Olympic gold medal. Staley retired from the WNBA in 2006 because of an insistent stirring inside her to make the full jump into coaching. 'I actually played and sacrificed my body one year longer than I should have so that I could get basketball out of my system,' she says. 'I didn't want to look back. I wanted to share that space and pour that energy into my players.' Staley has been head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks since 2008. In 2021, she got her fourth Olympic gold, this time as head coach of the US team. Originally, coaching wasn't in the plan for her career. 'It wasn't even a thought,' she says. '[But] I wanted to be a dream merchant for young people,' she says. 'We've won national championships; what that represented was so much more than another player or another former athlete. It was more of a Black woman who had never been a head coach of an Olympic team: It is that representation of being the first to open doors for others to walk through.' 'We have to continue to scream at the top of our lungs to get what we deserve.' When her team took home the gold, Staley paid homage to Carolyn Peck—the first Black coach to win an NCAA women's championship. 'Carolyn gave me a piece of her net two years before we won as a token,' she says. 'It was her way of saying: 'You're close, you're close. This piece of nylon is going to be a ray of hope for you. When you're thinking that you can't do it, touch on this piece of nylon and know that someone who looks like you has done it.'' This past January, Staley became the highest-paid coach in women's basketball history when she agreed to a $25.25 million-dollar contract extension to the 2029-30 college season. 'There should be more sitting where I sit,' she says. 'Female coaches who have served our game for decades haven't been paid what they're worth. When you step out there for equal pay, it's going to come against resistance.' Any timidity—terminal or not—has no place at the table: 'We have to continue to scream at the top of our lungs to get what we deserve.' Related Stories
