Stray Puppy Keeps Following Dawn Staley—What Happens Next Will Bring You to Tears

In a heartwarming story that has captured the internet’s attention, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley recently found herself shadowed by an unexpected companion—a stray puppy. What started as a simple encounter turned into something far more emotional, proving once again that sometimes, the most meaningful bonds come when we least expect them.

According to witnesses, Staley was out for a routine walk when she noticed a small, scruffy puppy trailing behind her. Despite her efforts to continue on her way, the pup refused to leave her side, wagging its tail and keeping pace with every step. As Staley stopped to acknowledge the persistent little dog, it became clear that this wasn’t just a lost animal—this pup had chosen her.

“At first, I thought it was just looking for food or attention, but there was something about the way it wouldn’t leave my side,” Staley later shared. “It was like it was trying to tell me something.”

Moved by the puppy’s determination, Staley couldn’t bear to leave it behind. She scooped up the tiny dog, cradling it in her arms as it nestled against her. A trip to the vet confirmed that the puppy was malnourished but otherwise healthy—just in need of love and care.

Despite her demanding schedule as one of the most respected coaches in women’s basketball, Staley knew what she had to do. She decided to adopt the puppy, giving it the name Champ—a fitting title for a dog that had already won the ultimate battle: a place in her heart.

Champ quickly adapted to life with Staley, becoming a beloved addition to her home. The once-stray pup now enjoys the love and care of a family, complete with cozy naps, warm meals, and even the occasional appearance at South Carolina’s practice sessions.

Staley’s act of kindness has inspired fans across social media, with many praising her compassion and selflessness. The story of Champ serves as a touching reminder of the unexpected ways love finds us—and how sometimes, the ones who need saving end up saving us right back.

As for Staley, she remains as dedicated to her team as ever, now with a loyal four-legged friend cheering her on. And for Champ, the days of wandering alone are over—because he’s finally found his forever home.

Dawn Staley recalls ‘anticipation’ for SEC coin flip: ‘I was nervous and excited all at the same time’

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Sunday afternoon, the eyes of the college basketball world turned toward Birmingham. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey had a coin with two teams on it – and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament was on the line.

South Carolina forced the unique tiebreaker after defeating Kentucky. The Gamecocks shared the SEC regular-season title with Texas, and after splitting the season series, it came down to a coin flip at halftime of LSU vs. Ole Miss.

Dawn Staley was among those watching. Her South Carolina team stayed at the arena to watch Sankey toss the coin, hoping to earn the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Luckily, she said, the Gamecocks were preparing for such a moment.

“As it was moving towards the coin flip, I think it was like two or three games left of the regular season, and we’re like, ‘Okay,’” Staley said on SiriusXM College Sports Radio. “The league thought it was best to start preparing for it just in case it happened. As we beat a tough Kentucky team at home, we took care of business and we kind of exhaled and then, we watched a little bit of Texas. Finished up their game, and then, the anticipated coin flip. We all stayed at the arena after the game to watch the halftime, to see the commissioner.

“I was nervous and excited all at the same time because you anticipate it for the past, like, two weeks. Now, it’s here, and it comes down to the coin gods. The coin gods taking over. Fortunately, for us, we got it.”

Dawn Staley: ‘It’s advantageous to be the No. 1 seed’

By tying with Texas, South Carolina shared the conference title. But Dawn Staley said the No. 1 seed is important as the teams got ready for the SEC tournament. The top seed gets to play in the first session of the day, which means it gets more time to recover after games. The No. 2 seed, meanwhile, plays later in the day.

But the coin flip also showed Staley something else. People tuned in to watch – and talk about women’s basketball.

“The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are different in that the time of day that you play or the night, you’re the 2-seed, you think you guys should play in the first session,” Staley said. “But it’s not like that. You’ve got to play in the second session, and if you continue to advance, the weekend always seems like the weekend where you spring forward with the time change. I think it’s advantageous to be the No. 1 seed.

“I will say, it was covered very nicely. It gave us something else to cover besides the actual games. That’s always a good thing, and I’m not just saying that because we on the coin flip. I’m saying it because I was really excited about watching it and anticipating watching it. And so was everybody else. It sparked up a lot of conversation.”