Dawn Staley's Touching Necklaces Honor Young Cancer Survivor

The South Carolina coach wears beaded necklaces made by a 7-year-old girl she met during her cancer treatment.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:19pm

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, featuring a central figure wearing a necklace made of colorful beads, capturing the raw energy and emotion of a women's basketball game.Coach Staley's beaded necklaces, gifted by a young cancer survivor, have become a symbol of the power of sports to uplift and inspire.Greenville Today

As South Carolina's women's basketball team returns to the Final Four, head coach Dawn Staley will likely be wearing her signature necklaces featuring multi-colored beads. These necklaces were made by Blakeleigh Thompson, a 7-year-old girl who battled leukemia and developed a close relationship with Staley. The two met in 2023 at the UVA Children's Hospital, and Thompson has gifted Staley multiple necklaces over the years, including a surprise new one before the Gamecocks' Elite Eight win in 2025.

Why it matters

Staley's necklaces are more than just a fashion statement - they represent her personal connection to a young cancer survivor and serve as a reminder of the challenges people face beyond the basketball court. The story highlights Staley's compassion and the power of sports to uplift those in need.

The details

In 2023, Staley met Blakeleigh Thompson, then 7 years old, while the young girl was undergoing cancer treatment at the UVA Children's Hospital. The two developed a close bond, and Thompson made several beaded necklaces for Staley to wear during South Carolina's games. In 2025, Thompson surprised Staley with a new necklace before the Gamecocks' Elite Eight win over Notre Dame, as Staley's old one was starting to wear. Staley has continued to wear the necklaces, which she says puts the game of basketball in perspective compared to the challenges others face.

  • In 2023, Staley met Blakeleigh Thompson at the UVA Children's Hospital.
  • In 2025, Thompson surprised Staley with a new necklace before the Gamecocks' Elite Eight win.
  • In July 2025, then-7-year-old Thompson rang the bell, marking the end of her cancer treatment, with Staley in attendance.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina women's basketball team, known for wearing beaded necklaces made by a young cancer survivor.

Blakeleigh Thompson

A 7-year-old girl who battled leukemia and developed a close relationship with Coach Staley, making her necklaces that the coach wears during games.

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What they’re saying

“For us, it's our world, it's our passion, it's what we do. It's really just basketball when you put it in perspective of what other people have to go through.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Women's Basketball

The takeaway

Staley's necklaces serve as a heartwarming symbol of her connection to a young cancer survivor, reminding everyone that there is more to life than just basketball. Staley's compassion and the power of sports to uplift those in need are inspiring, especially as her team competes for a national championship.