CNNSI.com - SI For Women - Dawn Staley's Diary: Feeling Inspired

Raise cash
for your team!
Sell subscriptions to SI, SI For Kids and SI For Women and your team keeps 50%!

Join SI for Women's Affiliate Program

Dawn Staley's Diary: Feeling Inspired

Staley goes on-on-one against her team's mascot. Courtesy Charlotte Sting

Dawn Staley is a member of the U.S. national women's basketball team and the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA. To keep up with Dawn as she prepares for the 2000 Sydney Games, check out new installments of her diary in Sports Illustrated for Women magazine and right here on CNNSI.com.

Well, it's funny how time flies. I'm back in Charlotte for another quest to win a WNBA championship. Training camp is going well without my services. My knee is not quite ready yet but my spirits are high. I'm inspired when I think about the talent that fills the Charlotte Sting's roster. We are loaded with an arsenal of shooters, defenders, and well, jokesters. Tracy Reid comes to mind first in that category. Tracy is just a funny person. For instance, she does impressions and gives everybody nicknames. My nickname is SB, short for Simon Birch! You probably remember that movie about the "height challenged" little boy. She has an eye for seeing characteristics that make good nicknames. And unfortunately, once she gives it to you, it sticks.

Staley and her Charlotte Sting teammates sign autographs for fans. Courtesy Charlotte Sting
We just finished a week of "two a days" (practicing twice a day) and launched our community outreach efforts. Community service is always fun and fulfilling. I especially enjoy visiting schools and interacting with the kids. I love the kids. Sometimes they're unruly, and other times captivated by us, but you can always count on them to be honest. Kids keep me in check. They'll definitely point out your flaws on or off the court. For instance, one little girl told me she liked me because of my trendsetting braids and the fact that I wear my shorts up to the number on my jersey. How do you explain being "high waisted" to a child? You tell me. But, I can tell you this, my shorts are coming down!

The most exciting team event we've had was a luncheon the Sting sponsored for the businesswomen of Charlotte. The room was filled with women representing a number of professions. The luncheon was the Sting's attempt to gain their support. After all, in order to be successful, we have to support each other. The luncheon was nice but the keynote address by nationally known motivational speaker Patricia Russell-McCloud was awesome! She spoke about how we, as women, should put our resources together to support ourselves. Her talk was the most inspiring speech I've heard in all of my thirty years. She was so good that the men in the room were probably wishing they could trade in their suits for skirts. The passion behind her words made me believe in me just a little bit more. The fact that she used me in her speech didn't hurt either.

Until next time, peace from Charlotte ya'll,

-- Dawn

Dawn Staley's Diary archive

Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.