Why Dawn Staley is wearing 28 bracelets and necklace with deep personal meaning at March Madness

Dawn Staley is one of the most prominent figures in college basketball, and the South Carolina head coach has caught the eye at March Madness with her bracelet collection.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley is wearing 28 bracelets and necklaces as a tribute to a young girl going through cancer treatment – while the No. 1-seeded Gamecocks seek to defend their NCAA title.

After South Carolina’s 108-48 win over Tennessee Tech, the Gamecocks faced Indiana in the second round of March Madness on Sunday. South Carolina struggled early but delivered, emerging 64-53 winners over the No. 9 Hoosiers.

Bree Hall led the way with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc to go along with one block. Chloe Kitts struggled in the first half but came alive in the second; she finished with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting alongside 11 rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Staley could be seen on the sidelines wearing a collection of bracelets and necklaces while her Gamecocks progressed. Before the clash with Indiana, the 54-year-old outlined why she wears so many accessories.

When asked how many bracelets she wears on a day-to-day basis, Staley told reporters: “A lot. I mean, I just- when young people give me the bracelets I just immediately put them on. And I think [Sania] Feagin counted them. I think I’m up to 28. Doesn’t look like 28. Just people customize it for me and I figure I will wear them until they break.”

Staley then explained the meaning behind her excessive number of bracelets, outlining that she does it for a young woman fighting for her life. She said: “The biggest story is, you know, two of the necklaces that I wear are from one person, a young lady, and her name is Blake Lee, who’s going through cancer treatments.

“I mean, gives me a perspective of, yes, we’re preparing for a second round game. She’s probably preparing for a second surgery or 22nd treatment. So helps give me perspective. The other one is a young man that I met here at the children’s hospital who suffers from sickle cell.

“So I had a cousin that passed from sickle cell, so gives me perspective on what we’re doing, where we are, and really for us, although we think it’s our world, our passion, what we do, it really is just basketball. When you put it in perspective of what other people have to go through.”

Staley added: “Not just the young people that are stricken with those type of diseases. It breaks down an entire family. It changes your family. If I have siblings, every energy is going towards healing that sick sibling, that sick child. So I some empathy for what they go through. If it helps me to stay empathetic, I’m going to wear them.”

Staley and the Gamecocks are targeting a fourth NCAA championship in nine years. South Carolina will face either Alabama or Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen on Friday, March 28.