September 24, 2025 • 43 mins
Legendary coach and player Dawn Staley joins Sarah Spain for a candid conversation about leading in life, beyond just wins and losses. Staley, whose Hall of Fame career has shaped generations of athletes, discusses the pressure of coaching in the new NIL and House v. NCAA era, her advocacy for equity in women’s athletics, and the emotional strength required to support friends and family through health challenges — including breast cancer. Dawn and Sarah explore how true and lasting influence lives beyond the scoreboard, and beyond the arena.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're taking
you beyond the Arena. It's Wednesday, September twenty fourth, and
(00:22):
on today's show, we'll be skipping the need to know
and getting right into my honest and surprising interview with
South Carolina women's basketball head coach Don Staley. It's the
latest installment of our series Life Beyond Living Beyond Labels,
a powerful podcast campaign brought to you by Iheartwomen's Sports.
Don's exceptional career as a player and a coach has
shaped generations of athletes. We had a really candid conversation
(00:46):
about her journey to the top of the hoops world
and the importance of leading in life beyond just wins
and losses. She also discusses the pressure of coaching in
a new nil and house versus NCAA era, her advocacy
for equity and women's dot let us and the emotional
strength required to support friends and family through health challenges
including breast cancer. Together, we explored how true and lasting
(01:08):
influence lives well beyond the scoreboard and well beyond the arena.
Our Life Beyond series showcases the extraordinary resilience and strength
of successful women, diving deep into their lives, highlighting their
personal journeys, passions, and the ways in which they're living
beyond the labels they've been given by others. My conversation
with Don is coming up right after this. Joining us now,
(01:37):
she's the head coach of the South Carolina game Cocks
women's basketball team, a squad she's led to three national
titles in twenty seventeen, twenty twenty two, and twenty twenty four.
A former pro hooper, she played college ball at Virginia
before playing three seasons in the ABL and then eight
seasons in the WNBA. She was an All star and
six of those eight A three time Olympic gold medallist
as a player on TMUSA. She went on to coach
(01:57):
that Olympic squad to another gold in twenty twenty one.
The only person to win the Naysmith Award is a
player and a coach. She's a four time Naysmith Coach
of the Year, a two time AP Coach of the Year,
and the highest paid coach in women's soops either college
or the WNBA. She's in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame,
the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Good Game
of Sarah Spain Hall of Fame. She's gone viral for
her cornhole dominance. She's got a damn statue. It's Don Staley. Hi, Don,
(02:22):
thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Oh, thank you for having me. It's a great introduction.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
We're kind of obsessed with the cornhole stuff, to be honest.
That's the outlier that we didn't see coming, but that
viral clip just keeps coming up, so we're well aware.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
They asked me to do cornhole.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Probably that was my second time doing it over the
past like four years, and that was actually my second
time playing over the past for whiles. Like it's something
that once I'm playing, I'm good. Once I'm there at
the at the monament, I'm good.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Instant champions. It's very impressive.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I want to start a pig picture because we're talking
in late September, we're about a month and a half
out from the start of the new college basketball season.
I'm wondering what level of intensity you're at when it
comes to practice, game planning, scouting other teams, prepping.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
For the year.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'm pretty chill, Like I don't get too high with
the highs or too low the lows, and I actually
go by really how we practice, and we really haven't
had bad practices, like since the summer until now. And
when we've had bad practices, I say it and then
we move on or I make them admit to it.
(03:35):
So it's not just we having to feel a bad practice.
Is everybody feeling a bad.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
We're all on the same page that it didn't go
great today.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
How similar or different does it feel this year in
terms of talent and style from last year's team another
great run, but a different look this year.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Different look, I mean, same talent, Like I think we're
I think we're pretty talented. I think we also have
a team that we have have been together, you know,
as a as a unit very long, meaning we got
our entire team together in August when we.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Return to school.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
That was the first time that we were together, like
all eleven of us. So because of that, we're probably
a little bit behind, but we more than make up
for it because there's a certain cohesion with this team,
there's a certain thirst for actually coaching, which is really
(04:32):
an anomaly in this day and age, where where everybody
wants to be a star, everybody wants where do I
fit in? Everybody wants to ball, everybody wants to be
the focal point. And this particular team just wants to win.
They want they want to get better individually and they
want to win. And when you have that kind of perspective,
(04:57):
it's it's a lot easier on coaches.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, for sure, You've got returning folks, joy sad Words,
Raven Johnson, Chloe Kats, Tessa Johnson who are trying to
turn the page after that loss at the end of
last season, but coming off more success. And then you've
got Tanaya Latson who led all of Division One in
scoring last season, had over twenty five points per game.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
How are you taking the.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
New talent, mixing it in with the old talent and
making sure everyone is equally as hungry to.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Get a title.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Everybody's coming really just wanting to win and wanting to
get better. Tanaya Danaia just wants to get better, and
you know I had to say this to our media
today and that it's it's Florida State did everything they
could do to put Tanaya in this position, and they
needed her to play that role of having to score
(05:44):
a lot of points and playmake for them, and we
need her to do the same things. But also just
watching her play over the years, and I you know,
I watched her play and when it got close to
tournament times, just in case we got metched up with them,
she's gifted, she gets or to basketball. Tanaya came here
probably for a different look, for different probably a responsibility,
(06:08):
but also to put her in a position where she
can learn some things to be a better pro and
a change of just just a change of environment will
help to do that, you know, But I feel a
responsibility to help her become her better pastor to counter
the fact that she can score points and score points
(06:30):
and bunches to help her to be more accurate from
shooting outside the three. And then probably the last part
of it is we need her to continue to do
what she's doing with play of defense, like really e
locked in defense because because she's going to a world
where you it has to exist. Both worlds have to
(06:50):
exist and when you go to the next level, because
you could be the greatest scorer, but if you're giving
up as many more points than your scoring, then you
got a problem.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yep, You'll end up on the globetrotters, on the and
one circuit. You'll have plenty of places to score, but
probably not the W How has the introduction of house
versus NT double A and the payments made directly from
school to players affected how you.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Recruit and manage and put together this team.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
I mean it's a part of our conversations when recruiting now.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
It is.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
You know, I think we're probably a lot more fortunate
than other teams. I do think our new ad, Jeremiah Nadi,
I mean, he really gets it. I mean he really
gets the importance of women's sports, you know, not just
women's basketball, but women's sports in general.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And I know he's charged.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
With, you know, getting football to where it needs to
be and getting into contending for a national you know, championship.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
But at the same time, you know, he.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
He's had some programs on this campus and specifically women's
programs that have you know, that have been the final
fours that have won national championships, that have been pretty
much the cornerstone of this athletics department by having success
like a court success and in the classroom success. So
when you get an ad that really just sees all
(08:22):
of it and it's unafraid to put his money where
his mouth and pouring into women's boards.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So is it great? No, it's competitive, and that's what
we need to be in this space.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
It's competitive with other women's basketball programs around the country.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
You said you were lucky, and it's true.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Every school will get to decide how they want to
dole out that twenty million or so every year, and
a lot of schools, a lot of places are very
worried about whether the women's programs will be forgotten. That's
not the case for you, but you do have the
added responsibility now of dealing with how the players are
impacted not just by nil deals from outside the program,
but buy money that's coming from inside the house. In
(09:03):
an episode of the IMO podcast with Michelle Obama and
Craig Robinson, you talked about how you have essentially NDAs
with your players.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
They're not supposed to.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Talk to each other or anyone about how much of
that pie they're getting, presumably to keep them all from you.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Know, being jealous or I want more of this or
more of that.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
But you did say you have a certain amount of
money to work with, but you're within budget while staying
innovative in the ways you help.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Your players out.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
What are some of the things that you're doing to
offset maybe not having all the money that you wish
you could give.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Yeah, and let me just say this, you know, when
I when I say things like that the NDAs, you know,
then then our athletics department is flooded with full request.
And I've made our players side NDAs you know, like
two years ago.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
So it's not something that we do every year.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Obviously, we just want to protect we you know, we
try to just run a program in which weakest weakest
stay in a place where it's not entering the locker room,
because once it gets to your locker room, it's not
a it's not a great place.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
What we had to do this year was front load.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Everything like and gotta give a shout out to our
donors who really put us in a position where we
could we We basically front loaded everybody's nil money except
three of our players.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
So the money that we have in rep share we gotta.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
We got a certain amount that if we needed to
front load some players returners, if we needed to go
out and get a transfer like a Tonight Lasson, we
got enough money to play with to go get those
players or to front load our players for the following
season and then still have the money that we'll receive
(10:54):
next year as far as REP share. So I'm hoping
we could keep that cycle going because it'll allows us
just more opportunity to be creative in the space.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Because I do think women will get shafted.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I'm not saying that we're not, but across the country
women's basketball teams and programs are getting shafted like we're
good on our own, like the house settlement hurts women's
sports to be to me, because I could go out
and ask a donor for one hundred grand here or
(11:29):
one hundred grand there.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
They give to our program.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
We could directly, just not directly, you got to go
through the collective and has to play the play.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
So we could have done that a great deal. And
we had enough money.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
And we had seven figures more than seven figures to
give out the front load, so it was more than
the REP share that we're getting so it hurts us.
It hurts us now, and if we ask a donor
for money, it can't go to the players. It has
to go to enhancing our program, which enhancing our program
(12:06):
is signing players, right, that's the name of the game.
So I'm hoping that that ads and presidents do right
by women's sports, like do right bys make it competitive
to where we could go out and get players. You
can't go fill the roster with one hundred grand or less,
or two hundred grand or three hundred or four hundred
(12:27):
or five hundred. You really can't. You really can't. It's
really impossible. So we got to keep pleading, and I'm
gonna keep pleading the case for specifically women's basketball programs,
even as that if it's at our detriment, because the
better my my, you know, my competitors are maybe the
(12:50):
worse we are, but it's better for better for the game.
So you know, it's it's it's a tough business. You
always have to think creatively or else we're going to
lose some great coaching because you just can't survive in
a space like that.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah, it's fascinating to talk to college coaches. I remember
talking to Corey Close of UCLA about how you're not
just a coach anymore.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
You're a business manager. You're a GM.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You're the person that goes between the players and the
school and the boosters and the I mean, I would
have spent, if I were you, my whole summer just
reading up on the specifics of house versus NCAA, the payments,
the structures. I mean, it is a whole nother job
that hopefully you have people on your staff to help
work you through. But I mean the difference between what
you had coming up and what it meant to commit
(13:39):
to a school and play there versus now is absolutely
night and day.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
I know you did probably do.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
A lot of that this summer, working and looking ahead
to this year, but you also spent some of your
time promoting your book Uncommon Favor Basketball in North Philly,
My Mother and the Life Lessons I learned from all
three instant New York Times bestseller, So congrats on that.
I know you've got a lifetime of lessons to share,
advice to impart, how do you decide what you want
to include and what you want in black and white
(14:07):
as part of your legacy?
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I mean, I mean writing a book.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
You're you know, you're you're vulnerable, you don't know how
it's going to be received. But I mean I pretty
much live my life like as an open book, Like
I don't have anything to be ashamed of. And obviously
I put stuff in the book that some people could
(14:32):
be ashamed of, like not being a great student my
first year.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I mean there are things in there that you know,
I mean, there are.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Peer pressures, there's failure, there's you know, obviously some achievements
in there, and it's very much like anybody else that
has the highs and lows of life, and how you
fight through those experiences is what makes you. And I
don't I don't mind sharing. Like again, even to the
(15:03):
detriment of me, I don't mind you. I don't mind
sharing because these are life lessons that everybody goes through.
And fortunately for me in writing uncommon favor like I
haven't had a bad review, like not one person.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Actually I did look up on Amazon.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
There was there was one person that wrote a bad
review because of the condition that their book came in.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
You're like, that's not my problem, that's like the.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Books I'm like five point those stars, you know what.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
I'm saying I don't like, I don't like anything less
than perfection when I.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Can control it.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
You said you're an open book, but I would say
your private life is pretty private. So how did it
feel to either be pushed by your publisher to share
more about that or to decide, like here's what I
am willing to share and even this, maybe it's a
little uncomfortable.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
For me when I want to want to talk about hoops.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Yeah, well I would say this.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I mean, I'm I guess I've built enough armor because
when you when you're over fifty, life just really leans
out for you and it clears up for you.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So no matter what happened prior to me being less
than fifty.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
We're lessons like and and I want to share like
I did, like like God has has blessed me with
like so much like my cup runned over to the
point of I'm like, I got to share it now.
Was the time, like I you know, I talked to Charlemagne,
(16:40):
like when we won a championship in twenty twenty two,
he was like, you should write a book.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I'm like, Okay, I heard this. I heard this. I mean,
I've heard this pretty much all my life.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
To write a book thirty years ago.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yeah, so I'm like, yeah, okay, But then he was
really persistent about writing it. Obviously he's got a publishing company,
and I think he being in the space, he knows
a lot more about books than I do, and a
lot more about people because that's his that's his job
(17:14):
to get to know people and ask people questions. And
that wasn't my first time being on the Breakfast Club,
so you know, obviously he finds me interesting or he's
just giving me, you know, some space because I'm a
South Carolinian. But he was just really persistent on writing
the book. And then when we won in an undefeated fashion,
(17:34):
I'm like, this is the time.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Like this is really the time to do it.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I love the BF and AF before fifty and after fifty.
I've been saying forty because I think a lot changes
after forty.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
But I'll let you know when I get to fifty.
He's better at us, he's better. Glad to hear it.
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Some of the battles that you fought outside the arena,
outside the basketball court include fighting for love, ones, friends,
and family. You advocate for cancer research and bow marrow donations.
Your sister Tracy was diagnosed with leukemi in twenty twenty
and your former assistant coach teammate, dear friend Nikki McCray
Penson passed away after struggling with breast cancer. So your
(18:15):
efforts in that have earned you the twenty twenty four
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the espi's You've made
a lot of headlines working in hospitals, working with sponsors
to advocate for research. What did you learn, I wonder
from being around people you loved so much during those battles.
What did you learn, specifically being by your own sister's
side as she took on a life threatening disease.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
I mean what I learned is you activate, like activate
for your loved ones, like you know, my sister when
she was diagnosed that. I mean, that's such a personal thing,
Like it's something that that consumes you as the person
that has been diagnosed.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I don't want to die, right, So for loved ones,
it is who do you know?
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Like?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
So for me, I really did.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I contacted Sylvia Hatchell, who had leukemia. Coach k I
had my doctor that treated me at Cleveland Clinic and
he was a cardiologist. I spoke with someone that that
had cancer here, like one of our one of our donors,
(19:32):
her her husband had cancer and he got treated at
m D Anderson. So I got a chance to speak
to a doctor that treated him at m D Anderson.
And then and then you're talking to Mayo Clinic like
I Sloan, like I talked to doctors from all of
those places. When to visit doctor Raziri at Duke and
he was really so kind, so loving, so just gave
(19:59):
up so much information and then he did a lot
of them, so it wasn't like, you know, it wasn't
an unknown for him. So my sister was very comfortable
with him. And we decided to stay a little bit
close to the home where we could drive, you know,
we could drive up and if she could get home,
we could drive home. And so I think you have
(20:19):
to activate, and I just my sister was just really
positive throughout it, like she never she never had a
bad day, Like I would say. She did have a
bad day, probably after her after her fourth chemo treatment,
after she had the.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Bone marrow transplant and she.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
Had lesions on her lips that were just hanging off.
That was probably when she felt the worst, and it
was more so because she could actually see it.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Before she couldn't really see it, but you have to
tell it.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Look, you won't die from leukemia, like you really, we
got you, like we got the best people, the best doctors,
we got the best care. You won't die from leukemia.
So if you could just keep a positive outlook we
get you open the hump and where thank god, we're
over five years from that place.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Incredible.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Well, and you used your network to really reach out
and say, I know, we're gonna get you the best
that's available.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
And then it's just on you to stay positive.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
You obviously everyone wants to do that for loved ones
to go through those things.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
But for Nicki, she wasn't able to be saved. What
did you learn from losing her?
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I mean what I learned is Nicki gave up an
incredible fight, like she gave it all she had. And
to tell Nikki's story, Niki, Nikki didn't want kids, like
at all somehow, and Nikki did a lot of stuff
to not have a kid. And then you know, when
(21:50):
she found out she was pregnant, you know, it was
it was miraculous and a lot of people don't know this.
You know the year that she was pregnant and then
she had her son, little Thomas.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
She didn't get her mammogram that year.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
For some reason, and she used the up on it
because cancer runs in her family. And then when she
got her mammogram, she found the spot. And then we
were with her, Me and Coach Boyer were with her
with every treatment that she sat through.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
NICKI again, Nikki didn't have a.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Bad day, meaning meaning we were taking best as to
when Nikki would have her surgery and when she would
get back into the office, Like she had a surgery
on a Wednesday, right, I said, Niggy's probably gonna be
back Monday.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Like Monday, And if she could have been back.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Friday, she would have been back Friday. But the lose Nikki,
you know, is I mean, it was tough. Like Nikki
is her smilest, infectious. She absolutely loved basketball, She loved
her family, she loved and a mom, she loved being
a wife, she loved the sun shining like she loved life.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And when we lost her, it was super sad.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Like I I at a funeral, at a service, I
asked you if I could have one of her plants
that that was at the funeral, and I still have
her plant.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Like I talked to her plant.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
I talked to Nikki. I, you know, I don't have
a green thumb, but but but it's still going strong.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
It's probably because of Nikki.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
We got to take a quick break when we come
back the rest of my conversation with Don Staley. You
know you're wearing the necklaces that you never seem to
be without.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Can you share the story of why you wear those?
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yeah, really cool story. I believe.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
I met at Blakely Thompson in twenty twenty two at
UVA Children's Hospital.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I got a partnership with a flag and AFLAC.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
They have this like automatic duck that when little kids
aren't able to verbalize because they're going through their treatments
what they're feeling. These ducks have these emojis that you
put on their stomach. It tells doctors how their young
patient is feeling. So we took Blakely and a few
of her friends through a scavenger hut. At the end
(24:30):
of it, they got their duck and then that after
they got their duck, they were able to make necklaces
for their duck. And I you know, you wouldn't know
that she was sick, like probably deathly sick, but you
wouldn't know it because we're having a conversation.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
She's just talking and she's.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Just carefree, and I'm sitting there thinking like, how brave
of her. I know her parents are so consumed with
their child's health like every day, and I just.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Wore in her honor.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
And then when we were on our way to winning
our championship, she knew it was getting pretty worn down.
She ended up sending me another one and we ended
up winning the championship in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
And then I went this other one.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Again because Athletic took me over to Columbia's Children Hospital
for sicka cel, so same thing. Scavenger Hunt met this
dude and we just we just had a really good
time and I went for pediatric cancer and pediatric cica cel.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
It's really incredible.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
I wonder sometimes being empathetic to people like that does
give you perspective, but you also carry their stories with
you and it can be a lot to feel what
they're feeling. You're going to talk to these kids, you're
fighting on behalf of your friends and family and through
it all, you're still coaching, how do you compartmentalize, find
your focus, stay strong enough to show up for your
(26:07):
players during those moments.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
I really draw strength, you know, and perspective from those
who have to go through a disease like every day.
You know, like sometimes my knee hurts doesn't compare to
what they go through. I would say, sometimes I have
a bad day, but really I don't have bad days.
I really, you know, in comparison to other people, I
(26:32):
don't have bad days, So I don't feed into bad days.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Every day is a good day. Every day.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
I try to share my passion, like I really love
my job. I really love working with young people. I
really love being a dream merchant for my players, like
I really love that part of what I do. I
do walk with a limp because of just the years
of playing basketball. But I'm kind of pain like and
(27:00):
it doesn't compare to what other people have to go
through on a daily basis. So you know, I'm counting
my blessings while also praying for those who are afflicted
by you know, cancer, sick of sell, any other debilitating
disease to where it consumes your your every day, like your.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Everyday thoughts that's exhausting.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
I pray for their piece, even if it's for an hour,
even if it's for half a day, that they have
the piece to be normal, like think, just not be
consumed with what they're going through.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You mentioned your relationship with your players, which is incredibly special.
Y'all really do ride for each other, whether that's supporting
each other's books, shoes, showing up at games. Two of
your former athletes, Alisha Gray and Asia Wilson, were finalists
for WNBA MVP this season, Asia obviously going on to
win her record forth MVP. Asia currently facing off against
(28:01):
another game Cock star in Eleiah Boston in the WNBA
semi finals. So hard for you, presumably to figure out
where to put all your allegiances. But what do you
think you do specifically to help your players succeed at
the next level? Why are there so many former Don
Staley players that are thriving at the.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
W I would say this, You know, young people come
to South Carolina for a reason. One is just the
history of the known, which is we continue to work prohabits.
Prohabits are the driving force of what we do here
(28:38):
at South Carolina. All of our players want to be
pros and if you.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
As a coach have it.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
If you haven't put anybody you know in the WNBA,
you really don't know. But until you do, you'll understand
and you understand what that process is for those players
or those type will players, that type of talent, and
you know what works and what doesn't work. So for
us we figure out what works. One is just really
(29:09):
clear communication clear, and that is that is you know,
whether something's going great or not so great, we're gonna
we're gonna give it to you just like just like
it is, whatever whatever that moment deserves, we're gonna give
it to you. And we've conditioned our players to take that.
(29:30):
Whereas some people you gotta coddle. Some people you just
gotta make sure. You gotta walking on eggshells. There's none
of that here, Like this is the training ground to
being successful at the next level. Tell me when you
when you don't like something, tell me if you think
we should play a certain way. Now, when you suggest
something that we need to change in what we're doing,
(29:52):
you gotta back that thing up with some film. Because
we're watching film. We're watching You probably won't watch as
much as we watch it, but we listen.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
And I mean we got proles. You just mentioned it.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Like Aliyah, I do think Aleah Boston will be should
be on the at least the first and second team
of all w NBA. Alisha Gray continuously comes back and
practices with us and share exactly what's happening at the
next level, right like when she came. When she comes back,
(30:26):
I always ask her to talk to the team, what
what can what can our players do to prepare themselves, you.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Know, for the next level. For someone that used to
not talk.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
A whole lot, Alisha gray Leish said, talking vets don't
want to play with anybody that doesn't talk out there
on the floor, like like they will they will remove
you from the floor, not even the coach, they will
remove you off the floor.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
So Angel always talks about off season workouts, what she
done us, like the amount of time that she spends.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Working out getting better and being specific and what she's
working out with Aliyah. She's always talking about just getting
better and the type of shape that you need to
be in the Like Aliah doesn't go overseas to play,
but she's always around basketball.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
She's commentating.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
She's an analyst, so her mind is always thinking the
game and thinking of ways and how what she's seeing
could help her.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
When she's playing out there in the w NBA.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Like all of our players, Zaia Cook, I talked to Zaia,
I talked to La like they are all learning, but
they're still there because a lot of people in the league.
Tiffy Mitchell was, you know, one of our first to
get drafted. She's still in the league, and she's still
in the league because she's smart and she created these people.
(32:00):
Because even if she doesn't play a whole whole lot,
she brings value. She brings value to the locker room.
So that's why I, you know, I choose to stay
on this level, is because I'm able to shape their
lives in a way that it protects us continue to
have a women's professional league.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Yeah, and at the level you're at too, it's so
necessary and important to set a precedent for women coaches.
We know all the statistics about Post Title nine, and
as more money got into the game, fewer women.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Were given opportunities to coach.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
There is such a need for more women coaches across
every level of basketball and every other sport. And not
only are you doing it and setting an example, But
you're demanding the pay that your accomplishments call for. How
do you summon the courage and the fearlessness it takes
to walk into an office at South Carolina and ask
for what you deserve, ask for more than what anyone
else is getting.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Well, I don't do Would I get somebody to do
it for me? I mean, here's the reason why if I,
if I don't do it, it's easy. It's probably easy
to tell me no, right, no, we don't have it,
budgets whatever, whatever, Right, I mean, you get somebody that
that really believes that it should happen, right, and then
(33:20):
they have the expertise.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
You know, you got to get lawyers involved. Just make
sure that you know we.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
All speak in the same language. Because the budget is
the budget, you know. I'm sure the budget doesn't call
for any coach to get an increase. But when you
have the type of success that we've had, I do
understand my worth like I do. I have a pretty
(33:48):
good understanding of my worth. And It'll be quite honest,
I'm not driven by money. I am driven by principle.
I am driven by principle, and I am an example
for our player. Like I tell them all the time,
don't settle right if you got some non negotiables, Like
I recruit young people all the time, what are your
(34:10):
non negotiables? That's what I asked, What are your non negotiables?
And if we aren't able to deliver their non negotiables,
then we're not the school for them. What my non
negotiables are? It is principal. I'm principled in knowing that
if we've had sustained success, sustained you know, and I'm
(34:32):
not talking just success, we've won like we've won, like
we've been the last team standing.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
And if you're the last team standing on any campus, you.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Deserve a race, no matter if y'all want back to back,
no matter if y'all won like I don't know how
many Connecticut one like in a row, but ginot deserve
the race every single time. Because if football or men's basketball,
if they've ever one back to back, they're rich people.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Yeah right there, they're.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
People, and it's and it's the conversations aren't very long.
They don't out for months or you know, months on end.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
They get it done.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
A football coach, if he has success and the last
game is on whatever it is last last week of November.
There's a month between that and the ball game. It's
getting done within that, within that time frame. So I mean,
that's why I do it, because I want my players
(35:40):
to know for the same type of work that they'll
mal counterparts may do.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
In the future. Then it's okay to bet on self.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
It's okay to have hard, uncomfortable conversation, It's okay to
know their worth.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
You have a special relationship with South Carolina. You've been
there a long time, You've had a lot of success.
We were at an event together in Portland. You talked
about how you call the fans fams instead because they're
part of the family.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
But you did interview for the next job.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
How much of you was really interested and drawn to
the idea of coaching the New York next in the MNBA.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Well, well, one, let me just say this. I'm a
people's person.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
So I mean, I know Leon I know worldwide West,
I've known him for thirty years. And when I when
I got the call, you know, I'm like, yeah, right, Leon,
Like I'm talking to Leone, like you're right, okay, what what?
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Then he was like, I'm serious.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
And when he told me why he was serious, and
then I was like, okay, well, okay, let's do it.
Part of me, you know, was like, really, this isn't
this isn't what I've ever wanted, right, And then the other.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Part of me was a little intrigued, you know, because
it was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
And then when I was preparing for the interview and
I'm having these conversations with different people and I'm taking
my notes and I'm preparing myself, and then when I'll
go and do the interview, I wasn't nervous at all.
And part of me was doing it for a female coach,
if ever there's somebody that is going to be interviewed
(37:21):
and taking seriously.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
I got all the notes and I'm keeping them and
I'm going to share them. Yeah, but then you're in
the interview and you're talking.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
I'm just doing what I normally do and speaking on
who I am one as a leader, as a collaborator,
as a unifier, Like if you want all of those things,
that's what I've done my entire career, my time, not
as a coach, okay, I mean as somebody in my neighborhood,
(37:51):
in the projects.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
I did those things.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
So I gotta not just experience coaching doing it. I
got experience outside of coaching. This thing is real simple,
to be quite honest, to be successful. It's really simple.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
To be a.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Collaborator, is simple to be a unifier. It's really simple.
It looks sound feel something looks sounds to feel off,
you address it. If it looks sounds to feel good
and positive, you encourage it and you want more right
and you praise it.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Yeah, I was excited for the interview.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
I was torn because I think it's a great thing
to keep having women in those interviews, even if they
don't get the job, to normalize the idea that the
pool should include great former.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Players and current coaches like yourself.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
I also worry about whether you're ever being used as
a token to say, oh, yeah, we interviewed a lady,
but we're never going to hire her.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
You know, that's always my concern.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
I don't think that's what their intentions were. But when
it was all said and done, you have to be
prepared as a franchise. You have to think differently. You
can't think the same because you're not hiring to say,
if I'm the coach, if we go on a five
game skid. It ain't gonna be because I'm a bad coach.
(39:11):
It's gonna be because I'm a woman, right, a female
come And it has nothing to do with like all
these coaches they go on five game skid, three game skid.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
The conversation around that will be a lot different.
Speaker 4 (39:25):
Yeah, you gotta be ready for that. Yeah, you gotta
be ready. If you are going to hire and be
one of the firsts, how do you plan to support that?
You know, I want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
About your early time in I mentioned you were in
the ABL for a couple of years before the WNBA,
and you have been on the forefront of the firsts
of things and the early times of things.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
And of course the growth in the w is fantastic.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Of course we love the increased investment and all the
attention and all the hype. But there were some pretty
legit attendance records, moments of history that happened back in
the early days. And when you hear people talking about
the current time as the end, all be y'all, what
do you wish they knew about those early years too?
And some of the records we're seeing get broken now
that you got to go pretty far back to see when.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
They were set, when it was thriving.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
Then well, I mean women's basketball has been thriving for
a very long time.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
Like we we we have a tendency to think that
it's just started like now, like we've been doing this.
We've been doing this forever, like people had.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
People were intentionally not looking, intentionally not pouring in like
like calculatingly.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Not doing it.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
So when it's when it's like that, you're only gonna
you're only gonna see what you what you tell your
eyes to see.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
And and now people's eyes are wide open because they
see we're there.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
When you put in resources behind us, oh we're gonna
take you to another level. You you'll get a return
in your investment in this up and then and then
you want to do more, well, well you can't continue
to do more.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
But this could have been you.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
You could have been sitting fat and happy at home, retired,
all because you brought it to women's women's basketball, women's
sports in general.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Welcome to the party, guys. We've been waiting we do
something on this show. It's kind of like bench start cut,
but you don't have to cut anything. It's just good, good, good,
or goodest. So starting with good and then getting better.
We know that you're Asia Wilson's number one hype woman.
So good, good or goodest, Asia's statue, Asia's shoes, Asia's
(41:40):
pink hair.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Asia.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Ooh, I'm gonna say, gooddest is the statue? Oh right,
good is this shoe? And then the pink hair. The
pink hair got to go. You can get cut.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Oh okay, okay, so we got good is the pink care,
gooder is the shoes, and goodest is the statue.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Yes, I love it all right.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Last question for you, if you look at Don Staley
beyond the arena, you'll find.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
I'm really a homebody, simply I love being at home.
Speaker 3 (42:19):
And then I would say this, I'm like, I love TVs.
I got TVs all over, like all over my house.
Speaker 4 (42:28):
If you look beyond the arena, you'll find TVs.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
That's what you'll find it.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
I love it. What's on the TVs just basketball or
something else?
Speaker 2 (42:37):
I mean, I like crime like, I like crime, war movies.
I like I don't mind blood.
Speaker 3 (42:43):
I don't mind any of that. Like a Dateline is
one of my favorite shows. I fall asleep the floor
Forensic Files.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
So I'm just picturing you in a beautiful house, covered
in all TVs everywhere, just like blood, guts, gore. Okay,
your special, your special. I knew you were special. You're
even more special than I thought. Thank you down for
coming on.
Speaker 4 (43:06):
Really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,
our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive
producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutterer.
(43:32):
Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance
from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain
This show was independently created by iHeartMedia. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Is the exclusive advertising partner. It is intended for informational
and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions.
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're taking
you beyond the Arena. It's Wednesday, September twenty fourth, and
(00:22):
on today's show, we'll be skipping the need to know
and getting right into my honest and surprising interview with
South Carolina women's basketball head coach Don Staley. It's the
latest installment of our series Life Beyond Living Beyond Labels,
a powerful podcast campaign brought to you by Iheartwomen's Sports.
Don's exceptional career as a player and a coach has
shaped generations of athletes. We had a really candid conversation
(00:46):
about her journey to the top of the hoops world
and the importance of leading in life beyond just wins
and losses. She also discusses the pressure of coaching in
a new nil and house versus NCAA era, her advocacy
for equity and women's dot let us and the emotional
strength required to support friends and family through health challenges
including breast cancer. Together, we explored how true and lasting
(01:08):
influence lives well beyond the scoreboard and well beyond the arena.
Our Life Beyond series showcases the extraordinary resilience and strength
of successful women, diving deep into their lives, highlighting their
personal journeys, passions, and the ways in which they're living
beyond the labels they've been given by others. My conversation
with Don is coming up right after this. Joining us now,
(01:37):
she's the head coach of the South Carolina game Cocks
women's basketball team, a squad she's led to three national
titles in twenty seventeen, twenty twenty two, and twenty twenty four.
A former pro hooper, she played college ball at Virginia
before playing three seasons in the ABL and then eight
seasons in the WNBA. She was an All star and
six of those eight A three time Olympic gold medallist
as a player on TMUSA. She went on to coach
(01:57):
that Olympic squad to another gold in twenty twenty one.
The only person to win the Naysmith Award is a
player and a coach. She's a four time Naysmith Coach
of the Year, a two time AP Coach of the Year,
and the highest paid coach in women's soops either college
or the WNBA. She's in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame,
the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Good Game
of Sarah Spain Hall of Fame. She's gone viral for
her cornhole dominance. She's got a damn statue. It's Don Staley. Hi, Don,
(02:22):
thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Oh, thank you for having me. It's a great introduction.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
We're kind of obsessed with the cornhole stuff, to be honest.
That's the outlier that we didn't see coming, but that
viral clip just keeps coming up, so we're well aware.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
They asked me to do cornhole.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Probably that was my second time doing it over the
past like four years, and that was actually my second
time playing over the past for whiles. Like it's something
that once I'm playing, I'm good. Once I'm there at
the at the monament, I'm good.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Instant champions. It's very impressive.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I want to start a pig picture because we're talking
in late September, we're about a month and a half
out from the start of the new college basketball season.
I'm wondering what level of intensity you're at when it
comes to practice, game planning, scouting other teams, prepping.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
For the year.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
I'm pretty chill, Like I don't get too high with
the highs or too low the lows, and I actually
go by really how we practice, and we really haven't
had bad practices, like since the summer until now. And
when we've had bad practices, I say it and then
we move on or I make them admit to it.
(03:35):
So it's not just we having to feel a bad practice.
Is everybody feeling a bad.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
We're all on the same page that it didn't go
great today.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
How similar or different does it feel this year in
terms of talent and style from last year's team another
great run, but a different look this year.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Different look, I mean, same talent, Like I think we're
I think we're pretty talented. I think we also have
a team that we have have been together, you know,
as a as a unit very long, meaning we got
our entire team together in August when we.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Return to school.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
That was the first time that we were together, like
all eleven of us. So because of that, we're probably
a little bit behind, but we more than make up
for it because there's a certain cohesion with this team,
there's a certain thirst for actually coaching, which is really
(04:32):
an anomaly in this day and age, where where everybody
wants to be a star, everybody wants where do I
fit in? Everybody wants to ball, everybody wants to be
the focal point. And this particular team just wants to win.
They want they want to get better individually and they
want to win. And when you have that kind of perspective,
(04:57):
it's it's a lot easier on coaches.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, for sure, You've got returning folks, joy sad Words,
Raven Johnson, Chloe Kats, Tessa Johnson who are trying to
turn the page after that loss at the end of
last season, but coming off more success. And then you've
got Tanaya Latson who led all of Division One in
scoring last season, had over twenty five points per game.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
How are you taking the.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
New talent, mixing it in with the old talent and
making sure everyone is equally as hungry to.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
Get a title.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Everybody's coming really just wanting to win and wanting to
get better. Tanaya Danaia just wants to get better, and
you know I had to say this to our media
today and that it's it's Florida State did everything they
could do to put Tanaya in this position, and they
needed her to play that role of having to score
(05:44):
a lot of points and playmake for them, and we
need her to do the same things. But also just
watching her play over the years, and I you know,
I watched her play and when it got close to
tournament times, just in case we got metched up with them,
she's gifted, she gets or to basketball. Tanaya came here
probably for a different look, for different probably a responsibility,
(06:08):
but also to put her in a position where she
can learn some things to be a better pro and
a change of just just a change of environment will
help to do that, you know, But I feel a
responsibility to help her become her better pastor to counter
the fact that she can score points and score points
(06:30):
and bunches to help her to be more accurate from
shooting outside the three. And then probably the last part
of it is we need her to continue to do
what she's doing with play of defense, like really e
locked in defense because because she's going to a world
where you it has to exist. Both worlds have to
(06:50):
exist and when you go to the next level, because
you could be the greatest scorer, but if you're giving
up as many more points than your scoring, then you
got a problem.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yep, You'll end up on the globetrotters, on the and
one circuit. You'll have plenty of places to score, but
probably not the W How has the introduction of house
versus NT double A and the payments made directly from
school to players affected how you.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Recruit and manage and put together this team.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
I mean it's a part of our conversations when recruiting now.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
It is.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
You know, I think we're probably a lot more fortunate
than other teams. I do think our new ad, Jeremiah Nadi,
I mean, he really gets it. I mean he really
gets the importance of women's sports, you know, not just
women's basketball, but women's sports in general.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And I know he's charged.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
With, you know, getting football to where it needs to
be and getting into contending for a national you know, championship.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
But at the same time, you know, he.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
He's had some programs on this campus and specifically women's
programs that have you know, that have been the final
fours that have won national championships, that have been pretty
much the cornerstone of this athletics department by having success
like a court success and in the classroom success. So
when you get an ad that really just sees all
(08:22):
of it and it's unafraid to put his money where
his mouth and pouring into women's boards.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So is it great? No, it's competitive, and that's what
we need to be in this space.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
It's competitive with other women's basketball programs around the country.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
You said you were lucky, and it's true.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Every school will get to decide how they want to
dole out that twenty million or so every year, and
a lot of schools, a lot of places are very
worried about whether the women's programs will be forgotten. That's
not the case for you, but you do have the
added responsibility now of dealing with how the players are
impacted not just by nil deals from outside the program,
but buy money that's coming from inside the house. In
(09:03):
an episode of the IMO podcast with Michelle Obama and
Craig Robinson, you talked about how you have essentially NDAs
with your players.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
They're not supposed to.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Talk to each other or anyone about how much of
that pie they're getting, presumably to keep them all from you.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
Know, being jealous or I want more of this or
more of that.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
But you did say you have a certain amount of
money to work with, but you're within budget while staying
innovative in the ways you help.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Your players out.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
What are some of the things that you're doing to
offset maybe not having all the money that you wish
you could give.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Yeah, and let me just say this, you know, when
I when I say things like that the NDAs, you know,
then then our athletics department is flooded with full request.
And I've made our players side NDAs you know, like
two years ago.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
So it's not something that we do every year.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Obviously, we just want to protect we you know, we
try to just run a program in which weakest weakest
stay in a place where it's not entering the locker room,
because once it gets to your locker room, it's not
a it's not a great place.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
What we had to do this year was front load.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Everything like and gotta give a shout out to our
donors who really put us in a position where we
could we We basically front loaded everybody's nil money except
three of our players.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
So the money that we have in rep share we gotta.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
We got a certain amount that if we needed to
front load some players returners, if we needed to go
out and get a transfer like a Tonight Lasson, we
got enough money to play with to go get those
players or to front load our players for the following
season and then still have the money that we'll receive
(10:54):
next year as far as REP share. So I'm hoping
we could keep that cycle going because it'll allows us
just more opportunity to be creative in the space.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Because I do think women will get shafted.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
I'm not saying that we're not, but across the country
women's basketball teams and programs are getting shafted like we're
good on our own, like the house settlement hurts women's
sports to be to me, because I could go out
and ask a donor for one hundred grand here or
(11:29):
one hundred grand there.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
They give to our program.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
We could directly, just not directly, you got to go
through the collective and has to play the play.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
So we could have done that a great deal. And
we had enough money.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
And we had seven figures more than seven figures to
give out the front load, so it was more than
the REP share that we're getting so it hurts us.
It hurts us now, and if we ask a donor
for money, it can't go to the players. It has
to go to enhancing our program, which enhancing our program
(12:06):
is signing players, right, that's the name of the game.
So I'm hoping that that ads and presidents do right
by women's sports, like do right bys make it competitive
to where we could go out and get players. You
can't go fill the roster with one hundred grand or less,
or two hundred grand or three hundred or four hundred
(12:27):
or five hundred. You really can't. You really can't. It's
really impossible. So we got to keep pleading, and I'm
gonna keep pleading the case for specifically women's basketball programs,
even as that if it's at our detriment, because the
better my my, you know, my competitors are maybe the
(12:50):
worse we are, but it's better for better for the game.
So you know, it's it's it's a tough business. You
always have to think creatively or else we're going to
lose some great coaching because you just can't survive in
a space like that.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah, it's fascinating to talk to college coaches. I remember
talking to Corey Close of UCLA about how you're not
just a coach anymore.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
You're a business manager. You're a GM.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You're the person that goes between the players and the
school and the boosters and the I mean, I would
have spent, if I were you, my whole summer just
reading up on the specifics of house versus NCAA, the payments,
the structures. I mean, it is a whole nother job
that hopefully you have people on your staff to help
work you through. But I mean the difference between what
you had coming up and what it meant to commit
(13:39):
to a school and play there versus now is absolutely
night and day.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
I know you did probably do.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
A lot of that this summer, working and looking ahead
to this year, but you also spent some of your
time promoting your book Uncommon Favor Basketball in North Philly,
My Mother and the Life Lessons I learned from all
three instant New York Times bestseller, So congrats on that.
I know you've got a lifetime of lessons to share,
advice to impart, how do you decide what you want
to include and what you want in black and white
(14:07):
as part of your legacy?
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I mean, I mean writing a book.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
You're you know, you're you're vulnerable, you don't know how
it's going to be received. But I mean I pretty
much live my life like as an open book, Like
I don't have anything to be ashamed of. And obviously
I put stuff in the book that some people could
(14:32):
be ashamed of, like not being a great student my
first year.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I mean there are things in there that you know,
I mean, there are.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Peer pressures, there's failure, there's you know, obviously some achievements
in there, and it's very much like anybody else that
has the highs and lows of life, and how you
fight through those experiences is what makes you. And I
don't I don't mind sharing. Like again, even to the
(15:03):
detriment of me, I don't mind you. I don't mind
sharing because these are life lessons that everybody goes through.
And fortunately for me in writing uncommon favor like I
haven't had a bad review, like not one person.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
Actually I did look up on Amazon.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
There was there was one person that wrote a bad
review because of the condition that their book came in.
Speaker 4 (15:33):
You're like, that's not my problem, that's like the.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Books I'm like five point those stars, you know what.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
I'm saying I don't like, I don't like anything less
than perfection when I.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Can control it.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
You said you're an open book, but I would say
your private life is pretty private. So how did it
feel to either be pushed by your publisher to share
more about that or to decide, like here's what I
am willing to share and even this, maybe it's a
little uncomfortable.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
For me when I want to want to talk about hoops.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Yeah, well I would say this.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I mean, I'm I guess I've built enough armor because
when you when you're over fifty, life just really leans
out for you and it clears up for you.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So no matter what happened prior to me being less
than fifty.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
We're lessons like and and I want to share like
I did, like like God has has blessed me with
like so much like my cup runned over to the
point of I'm like, I got to share it now.
Was the time, like I you know, I talked to Charlemagne,
(16:40):
like when we won a championship in twenty twenty two,
he was like, you should write a book.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I'm like, Okay, I heard this. I heard this. I mean,
I've heard this pretty much all my life.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
To write a book thirty years ago.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Yeah, so I'm like, yeah, okay, But then he was
really persistent about writing it. Obviously he's got a publishing company,
and I think he being in the space, he knows
a lot more about books than I do, and a
lot more about people because that's his that's his job
(17:14):
to get to know people and ask people questions. And
that wasn't my first time being on the Breakfast Club,
so you know, obviously he finds me interesting or he's
just giving me, you know, some space because I'm a
South Carolinian. But he was just really persistent on writing
the book. And then when we won in an undefeated fashion,
(17:34):
I'm like, this is the time.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Like this is really the time to do it.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
I love the BF and AF before fifty and after fifty.
I've been saying forty because I think a lot changes
after forty.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
But I'll let you know when I get to fifty.
He's better at us, he's better. Glad to hear it.
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Some of the battles that you fought outside the arena,
outside the basketball court include fighting for love, ones, friends,
and family. You advocate for cancer research and bow marrow donations.
Your sister Tracy was diagnosed with leukemi in twenty twenty
and your former assistant coach teammate, dear friend Nikki McCray
Penson passed away after struggling with breast cancer. So your
(18:15):
efforts in that have earned you the twenty twenty four
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the espi's You've made
a lot of headlines working in hospitals, working with sponsors
to advocate for research. What did you learn, I wonder
from being around people you loved so much during those battles.
What did you learn, specifically being by your own sister's
side as she took on a life threatening disease.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
I mean what I learned is you activate, like activate
for your loved ones, like you know, my sister when
she was diagnosed that. I mean, that's such a personal thing,
Like it's something that that consumes you as the person
that has been diagnosed.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
I don't want to die, right, So for loved ones,
it is who do you know?
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Like?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
So for me, I really did.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I contacted Sylvia Hatchell, who had leukemia. Coach k I
had my doctor that treated me at Cleveland Clinic and
he was a cardiologist. I spoke with someone that that
had cancer here, like one of our one of our donors,
(19:32):
her her husband had cancer and he got treated at
m D Anderson. So I got a chance to speak
to a doctor that treated him at m D Anderson.
And then and then you're talking to Mayo Clinic like
I Sloan, like I talked to doctors from all of
those places. When to visit doctor Raziri at Duke and
he was really so kind, so loving, so just gave
(19:59):
up so much information and then he did a lot
of them, so it wasn't like, you know, it wasn't
an unknown for him. So my sister was very comfortable
with him. And we decided to stay a little bit
close to the home where we could drive, you know,
we could drive up and if she could get home,
we could drive home. And so I think you have
(20:19):
to activate, and I just my sister was just really
positive throughout it, like she never she never had a
bad day, Like I would say. She did have a
bad day, probably after her after her fourth chemo treatment,
after she had the.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Bone marrow transplant and she.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
Had lesions on her lips that were just hanging off.
That was probably when she felt the worst, and it
was more so because she could actually see it.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Before she couldn't really see it, but you have to
tell it.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Look, you won't die from leukemia, like you really, we
got you, like we got the best people, the best doctors,
we got the best care. You won't die from leukemia.
So if you could just keep a positive outlook we
get you open the hump and where thank god, we're
over five years from that place.
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Incredible.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Well, and you used your network to really reach out
and say, I know, we're gonna get you the best
that's available.
Speaker 4 (21:16):
And then it's just on you to stay positive.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
You obviously everyone wants to do that for loved ones
to go through those things.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
But for Nicki, she wasn't able to be saved. What
did you learn from losing her?
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I mean what I learned is Nicki gave up an
incredible fight, like she gave it all she had. And
to tell Nikki's story, Niki, Nikki didn't want kids, like
at all somehow, and Nikki did a lot of stuff
to not have a kid. And then you know, when
(21:50):
she found out she was pregnant, you know, it was
it was miraculous and a lot of people don't know this.
You know the year that she was pregnant and then
she had her son, little Thomas.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
She didn't get her mammogram that year.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
For some reason, and she used the up on it
because cancer runs in her family. And then when she
got her mammogram, she found the spot. And then we
were with her, Me and Coach Boyer were with her
with every treatment that she sat through.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
NICKI again, Nikki didn't have a.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Bad day, meaning meaning we were taking best as to
when Nikki would have her surgery and when she would
get back into the office, Like she had a surgery
on a Wednesday, right, I said, Niggy's probably gonna be
back Monday.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Like Monday, And if she could have been back.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Friday, she would have been back Friday. But the lose Nikki,
you know, is I mean, it was tough. Like Nikki
is her smilest, infectious. She absolutely loved basketball, She loved
her family, she loved and a mom, she loved being
a wife, she loved the sun shining like she loved life.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
And when we lost her, it was super sad.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
Like I I at a funeral, at a service, I
asked you if I could have one of her plants
that that was at the funeral, and I still have
her plant.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Like I talked to her plant.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
I talked to Nikki. I, you know, I don't have
a green thumb, but but but it's still going strong.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
It's probably because of Nikki.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
We got to take a quick break when we come
back the rest of my conversation with Don Staley. You
know you're wearing the necklaces that you never seem to
be without.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Can you share the story of why you wear those?
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Yeah, really cool story. I believe.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
I met at Blakely Thompson in twenty twenty two at
UVA Children's Hospital.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I got a partnership with a flag and AFLAC.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
They have this like automatic duck that when little kids
aren't able to verbalize because they're going through their treatments
what they're feeling. These ducks have these emojis that you
put on their stomach. It tells doctors how their young
patient is feeling. So we took Blakely and a few
of her friends through a scavenger hut. At the end
(24:30):
of it, they got their duck and then that after
they got their duck, they were able to make necklaces
for their duck. And I you know, you wouldn't know
that she was sick, like probably deathly sick, but you
wouldn't know it because we're having a conversation.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
She's just talking and she's.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Just carefree, and I'm sitting there thinking like, how brave
of her. I know her parents are so consumed with
their child's health like every day, and I just.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Wore in her honor.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
And then when we were on our way to winning
our championship, she knew it was getting pretty worn down.
She ended up sending me another one and we ended
up winning the championship in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
And then I went this other one.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Again because Athletic took me over to Columbia's Children Hospital
for sicka cel, so same thing. Scavenger Hunt met this
dude and we just we just had a really good
time and I went for pediatric cancer and pediatric cica cel.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
It's really incredible.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
I wonder sometimes being empathetic to people like that does
give you perspective, but you also carry their stories with
you and it can be a lot to feel what
they're feeling. You're going to talk to these kids, you're
fighting on behalf of your friends and family and through
it all, you're still coaching, how do you compartmentalize, find
your focus, stay strong enough to show up for your
(26:07):
players during those moments.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
I really draw strength, you know, and perspective from those
who have to go through a disease like every day.
You know, like sometimes my knee hurts doesn't compare to
what they go through. I would say, sometimes I have
a bad day, but really I don't have bad days.
I really, you know, in comparison to other people, I
(26:32):
don't have bad days, So I don't feed into bad days.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Every day is a good day. Every day.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
I try to share my passion, like I really love
my job. I really love working with young people. I
really love being a dream merchant for my players, like
I really love that part of what I do. I
do walk with a limp because of just the years
of playing basketball. But I'm kind of pain like and
(27:00):
it doesn't compare to what other people have to go
through on a daily basis. So you know, I'm counting
my blessings while also praying for those who are afflicted
by you know, cancer, sick of sell, any other debilitating
disease to where it consumes your your every day, like your.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Everyday thoughts that's exhausting.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
I pray for their piece, even if it's for an hour,
even if it's for half a day, that they have
the piece to be normal, like think, just not be
consumed with what they're going through.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
You mentioned your relationship with your players, which is incredibly special.
Y'all really do ride for each other, whether that's supporting
each other's books, shoes, showing up at games. Two of
your former athletes, Alisha Gray and Asia Wilson, were finalists
for WNBA MVP this season, Asia obviously going on to
win her record forth MVP. Asia currently facing off against
(28:01):
another game Cock star in Eleiah Boston in the WNBA
semi finals. So hard for you, presumably to figure out
where to put all your allegiances. But what do you
think you do specifically to help your players succeed at
the next level? Why are there so many former Don
Staley players that are thriving at the.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
W I would say this, You know, young people come
to South Carolina for a reason. One is just the
history of the known, which is we continue to work prohabits.
Prohabits are the driving force of what we do here
(28:38):
at South Carolina. All of our players want to be
pros and if you.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
As a coach have it.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
If you haven't put anybody you know in the WNBA,
you really don't know. But until you do, you'll understand
and you understand what that process is for those players
or those type will players, that type of talent, and
you know what works and what doesn't work. So for
us we figure out what works. One is just really
(29:09):
clear communication clear, and that is that is you know,
whether something's going great or not so great, we're gonna
we're gonna give it to you just like just like
it is, whatever whatever that moment deserves, we're gonna give
it to you. And we've conditioned our players to take that.
(29:30):
Whereas some people you gotta coddle. Some people you just
gotta make sure. You gotta walking on eggshells. There's none
of that here, Like this is the training ground to
being successful at the next level. Tell me when you
when you don't like something, tell me if you think
we should play a certain way. Now, when you suggest
something that we need to change in what we're doing,
(29:52):
you gotta back that thing up with some film. Because
we're watching film. We're watching You probably won't watch as
much as we watch it, but we listen.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
And I mean we got proles. You just mentioned it.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Like Aliyah, I do think Aleah Boston will be should
be on the at least the first and second team
of all w NBA. Alisha Gray continuously comes back and
practices with us and share exactly what's happening at the
next level, right like when she came. When she comes back,
(30:26):
I always ask her to talk to the team, what
what can what can our players do to prepare themselves, you.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Know, for the next level. For someone that used to
not talk.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
A whole lot, Alisha gray Leish said, talking vets don't
want to play with anybody that doesn't talk out there
on the floor, like like they will they will remove
you from the floor, not even the coach, they will
remove you off the floor.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
So Angel always talks about off season workouts, what she
done us, like the amount of time that she spends.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Working out getting better and being specific and what she's
working out with Aliyah. She's always talking about just getting
better and the type of shape that you need to
be in the Like Aliah doesn't go overseas to play,
but she's always around basketball.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
She's commentating.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
She's an analyst, so her mind is always thinking the
game and thinking of ways and how what she's seeing
could help her.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
When she's playing out there in the w NBA.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Like all of our players, Zaia Cook, I talked to Zaia,
I talked to La like they are all learning, but
they're still there because a lot of people in the league.
Tiffy Mitchell was, you know, one of our first to
get drafted. She's still in the league, and she's still
in the league because she's smart and she created these people.
(32:00):
Because even if she doesn't play a whole whole lot,
she brings value. She brings value to the locker room.
So that's why I, you know, I choose to stay
on this level, is because I'm able to shape their
lives in a way that it protects us continue to
have a women's professional league.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Yeah, and at the level you're at too, it's so
necessary and important to set a precedent for women coaches.
We know all the statistics about Post Title nine, and
as more money got into the game, fewer women.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Were given opportunities to coach.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
There is such a need for more women coaches across
every level of basketball and every other sport. And not
only are you doing it and setting an example, But
you're demanding the pay that your accomplishments call for. How
do you summon the courage and the fearlessness it takes
to walk into an office at South Carolina and ask
for what you deserve, ask for more than what anyone
else is getting.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Well, I don't do Would I get somebody to do
it for me? I mean, here's the reason why if I,
if I don't do it, it's easy. It's probably easy
to tell me no, right, no, we don't have it,
budgets whatever, whatever, Right, I mean, you get somebody that
that really believes that it should happen, right, and then
(33:20):
they have the expertise.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
You know, you got to get lawyers involved. Just make
sure that you know we.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
All speak in the same language. Because the budget is
the budget, you know. I'm sure the budget doesn't call
for any coach to get an increase. But when you
have the type of success that we've had, I do
understand my worth like I do. I have a pretty
(33:48):
good understanding of my worth. And It'll be quite honest,
I'm not driven by money. I am driven by principle.
I am driven by principle, and I am an example
for our player. Like I tell them all the time,
don't settle right if you got some non negotiables, Like
I recruit young people all the time, what are your
(34:10):
non negotiables? That's what I asked, What are your non negotiables?
And if we aren't able to deliver their non negotiables,
then we're not the school for them. What my non
negotiables are? It is principal. I'm principled in knowing that
if we've had sustained success, sustained you know, and I'm
(34:32):
not talking just success, we've won like we've won, like
we've been the last team standing.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
And if you're the last team standing on any campus, you.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Deserve a race, no matter if y'all want back to back,
no matter if y'all won like I don't know how
many Connecticut one like in a row, but ginot deserve
the race every single time. Because if football or men's basketball,
if they've ever one back to back, they're rich people.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Yeah right there, they're.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
People, and it's and it's the conversations aren't very long.
They don't out for months or you know, months on end.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
They get it done.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
A football coach, if he has success and the last
game is on whatever it is last last week of November.
There's a month between that and the ball game. It's
getting done within that, within that time frame. So I mean,
that's why I do it, because I want my players
(35:40):
to know for the same type of work that they'll
mal counterparts may do.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
In the future. Then it's okay to bet on self.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
It's okay to have hard, uncomfortable conversation, It's okay to
know their worth.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
You have a special relationship with South Carolina. You've been
there a long time, You've had a lot of success.
We were at an event together in Portland. You talked
about how you call the fans fams instead because they're
part of the family.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
But you did interview for the next job.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
How much of you was really interested and drawn to
the idea of coaching the New York next in the MNBA.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Well, well, one, let me just say this. I'm a
people's person.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
So I mean, I know Leon I know worldwide West,
I've known him for thirty years. And when I when
I got the call, you know, I'm like, yeah, right, Leon,
Like I'm talking to Leone, like you're right, okay, what what?
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Then he was like, I'm serious.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
And when he told me why he was serious, and
then I was like, okay, well, okay, let's do it.
Part of me, you know, was like, really, this isn't
this isn't what I've ever wanted, right, And then the other.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Part of me was a little intrigued, you know, because
it was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
And then when I was preparing for the interview and
I'm having these conversations with different people and I'm taking
my notes and I'm preparing myself, and then when I'll
go and do the interview, I wasn't nervous at all.
And part of me was doing it for a female coach,
if ever there's somebody that is going to be interviewed
(37:21):
and taking seriously.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
I got all the notes and I'm keeping them and
I'm going to share them. Yeah, but then you're in
the interview and you're talking.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
I'm just doing what I normally do and speaking on
who I am one as a leader, as a collaborator,
as a unifier, Like if you want all of those things,
that's what I've done my entire career, my time, not
as a coach, okay, I mean as somebody in my neighborhood,
(37:51):
in the projects.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
I did those things.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
So I gotta not just experience coaching doing it. I
got experience outside of coaching. This thing is real simple,
to be quite honest, to be successful. It's really simple.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
To be a.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Collaborator, is simple to be a unifier. It's really simple.
It looks sound feel something looks sounds to feel off,
you address it. If it looks sounds to feel good
and positive, you encourage it and you want more right
and you praise it.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
Yeah, I was excited for the interview.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
I was torn because I think it's a great thing
to keep having women in those interviews, even if they
don't get the job, to normalize the idea that the
pool should include great former.
Speaker 4 (38:36):
Players and current coaches like yourself.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
I also worry about whether you're ever being used as
a token to say, oh, yeah, we interviewed a lady,
but we're never going to hire her.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
You know, that's always my concern.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
I don't think so.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
I don't think that's what their intentions were. But when
it was all said and done, you have to be
prepared as a franchise. You have to think differently. You
can't think the same because you're not hiring to say,
if I'm the coach, if we go on a five
game skid. It ain't gonna be because I'm a bad coach.
(39:11):
It's gonna be because I'm a woman, right, a female
come And it has nothing to do with like all
these coaches they go on five game skid, three game skid.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
The conversation around that will be a lot different.
Speaker 4 (39:25):
Yeah, you gotta be ready for that. Yeah, you gotta
be ready. If you are going to hire and be
one of the firsts, how do you plan to support that?
You know, I want to ask you.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
About your early time in I mentioned you were in
the ABL for a couple of years before the WNBA,
and you have been on the forefront of the firsts
of things and the early times of things.
Speaker 4 (39:43):
And of course the growth in the w is fantastic.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Of course we love the increased investment and all the
attention and all the hype. But there were some pretty
legit attendance records, moments of history that happened back in
the early days. And when you hear people talking about
the current time as the end, all be y'all, what
do you wish they knew about those early years too?
And some of the records we're seeing get broken now
that you got to go pretty far back to see when.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
They were set, when it was thriving.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
Then well, I mean women's basketball has been thriving for
a very long time.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
Like we we we have a tendency to think that
it's just started like now, like we've been doing this.
We've been doing this forever, like people had.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
People were intentionally not looking, intentionally not pouring in like
like calculatingly.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Not doing it.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
So when it's when it's like that, you're only gonna
you're only gonna see what you what you tell your
eyes to see.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
And and now people's eyes are wide open because they
see we're there.
Speaker 3 (40:53):
When you put in resources behind us, oh we're gonna
take you to another level. You you'll get a return
in your investment in this up and then and then
you want to do more, well, well you can't continue
to do more.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
But this could have been you.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
You could have been sitting fat and happy at home, retired,
all because you brought it to women's women's basketball, women's
sports in general.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Welcome to the party, guys. We've been waiting we do
something on this show. It's kind of like bench start cut,
but you don't have to cut anything. It's just good, good, good,
or goodest. So starting with good and then getting better.
We know that you're Asia Wilson's number one hype woman.
So good, good or goodest, Asia's statue, Asia's shoes, Asia's
(41:40):
pink hair.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Asia.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
Ooh, I'm gonna say, gooddest is the statue? Oh right,
good is this shoe? And then the pink hair. The
pink hair got to go. You can get cut.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Oh okay, okay, so we got good is the pink care,
gooder is the shoes, and goodest is the statue.
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Yes, I love it all right.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
Last question for you, if you look at Don Staley
beyond the arena, you'll find.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
I'm really a homebody, simply I love being at home.
Speaker 3 (42:19):
And then I would say this, I'm like, I love TVs.
I got TVs all over, like all over my house.
Speaker 4 (42:28):
If you look beyond the arena, you'll find TVs.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
That's what you'll find it.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
I love it. What's on the TVs just basketball or
something else?
Speaker 2 (42:37):
I mean, I like crime like, I like crime, war movies.
I like I don't mind blood.
Speaker 3 (42:43):
I don't mind any of that. Like a Dateline is
one of my favorite shows. I fall asleep the floor
Forensic Files.
Speaker 1 (42:51):
So I'm just picturing you in a beautiful house, covered
in all TVs everywhere, just like blood, guts, gore. Okay,
your special, your special. I knew you were special. You're
even more special than I thought. Thank you down for
coming on.
Speaker 4 (43:06):
Really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,
our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive
producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutterer.
(43:32):
Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance
from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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