While Dawn Staley is close to her fellow Lisa Boyer, the exact nature of their relationship remains under the stone. They have worked together for over a decade, leading the Gamecocks to multiple national championships.
As a player, Dawn Staley had an illustrious career at the University of Virginia and in the WNBA with the Charlotte Sting and Houston Comets.
Transitioning to coaching, she has been the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team since 2008.
Under her leadership, the Gamecocks have won three NCAA Championships in 2017, 2022, and 2024 and have made six appearances in the Final Four over the last nine tournaments.
Additionally, her team has secured eight SEC regular-season titles and eight tournament titles.
Dawn Staley and Lisa Boyer Posted A Tweet Celebrating Their Decade-Long Partnership, Referring To Them As An “Old Married Couple”
Dawn Staley and Lisa Boyer both remain unmarried and very private about their relationship status in the public domain.
They have worked together as head coach and associate head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks since 2013.
Their bond is often described as that of an “old married couple,” a term Dawn herself used in a tweet celebrating their 10-year anniversary of working together.
Boyer!! We are that old married couple who started young and will grow old together. You put the ride and die in the RIDE and DIE! Proud of you Boyer. Thanks for sacrificing your career to help to me serve our teams, program, university and state. What a ride?! ❤️❤️ https://t.co/MLgYWYGbGR
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) May 7, 2018
In her tweet, she stated,
Boyer!! We are that old married couple who started young and will grow old together. You put the ride and die in the RIDE and DIE! Proud of you Boyer. Thanks for sacrificing your career to help me serve our teams, program, university and state. What a ride!
In response to this, Lisa replied,
What Dawnnie?!?! 10 years!!! Went by in a blink. Laughs, tears, joys, disappointments, heartaches, and victories, BUT always shoulder to shoulder. Been a ton of fun so let’s get this next 10 started!!!#ualreadyknow #loyalisnameofgame.
While there has been speculation and rumors about their relationship being romantic, neither Dawn nor Lisa has confirmed any romantic involvement.
https://t.co/dhQKlpuvxJ pic.twitter.com/5chB2Ab7WP
— GINSUJenn (@jreddlovette) January 10, 2025
On the other hand, they often reposted and commented on each other’s social media posts.
On Jan 10, 2025, Lisa re-shared a picture of Dawn with her fur baby. In that particular post, people referred to her fur baby as her son and commented, “The perfect mother/son shot.”
This shows their deep connection but nothing that points to a romantic relationship.
Now, regarding her connection with the fur baby, Staley lovingly refers to her pet dog, ChampStaley, as her son.
She frequently posts his photos on Instagram under the handle @champstaley2017, an account dedicated to him.
She once shared a heartwarming caption on her personal Instagram,
@champstaley2017 is human! Mommy will be home soon! He even understands time… It’s been 6 days and countless wake-ups. I can’t wait to count down the moments with my boy! Mommy misses you, my boy! Love you, my boy!
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Dawn was born on May 4, 1970, to parents Clarence and Estelle Staley in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- She is one of five children, and her siblings are Tracey, Lawrence, Anthony, and Eric.
- Born in Ogdensburg, New York, Lisa Boyer started her coaching career as an assistant coach for the Davidson Wildcats women’s basketball team from 1981 to 1982.
