Legendary Coach to Lead Equity Conversation in Toronto
Basketball icon and advocate Dawn Staley will headline this year’s UNMATCHED Gender Equity in Sports Conference on August 5, held in Toronto during the National Bank Open presented by Rogers. The event, recognized for championing inclusion and diversity in sport, will feature a keynote conversation between Staley and Canadian sports broadcaster Tamika Nurse.
A Historic First for UNMATCHED
Staley is the first non-tennis figure to lead the conference’s main dialogue, succeeding past speakers Billie Jean King (2022), Maria Sharapova (2023), and Venus Williams (2024). The theme of this year’s edition—“Stronger Together”—aligns closely with Staley’s lifelong commitment to equity in athletics.
Impact Beyond the Court
Currently the head coach of the University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Team, Staley made history as the first Black woman to win three NCAA National Championships. She’s lauded not only for building a championship program but for boldly addressing systemic inequities in collegiate athletics.
Driving Change Through Advocacy
Staley’s influence surged in 2021 when she publicly criticized the NCAA’s unequal treatment of men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Since then, she’s continued to use her platform to advocate for transgender inclusion, pay equity, and standalone media rights for women’s sports. Her work earned her the 2024 Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.
Pushing the Limits of Equity in Coaching
Beyond athlete advocacy, Staley has championed the cause of Black women in coaching, spotlighting wage disparities and demanding representation. In January 2025, she signed a record-breaking contract with South Carolina, becoming the highest-paid college women’s basketball coach in history—a milestone for the profession.
Empowering the Next Generation
The UNMATCHED Conference, launched to address gender equity in Canadian and global sports, provides a stage for transformative voices like Staley’s. Her keynote promises to deliver a powerful message on leadership, equity, and resilience, inspiring attendees to push boundaries and raise voices in the pursuit of inclusion.
For more information on the event or media inquiries, contact:
📧 executivedirector@pentathloncanada.ca
© Maple News Wire — Covering voices that shape Canadian sport and culture.
