
Uncommon Favor
Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned From All Three
Atria/Black Privilege Publishing · Print & ebook · May 20, 2025
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER For the first time, Dawn Staley shares powerful and inspiring stories that have shaped her journey on and off the court.
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- Who it’s for
- A straightforward memoir voice with enough grit, reflection, and sport to keep the pages moving.
- Genres
- Sports Lives, Sports, Women's Lives
- Published
- Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, May 20, 2025
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Start with this bookAbout this book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER For the first time, Dawn Staley shares powerful and inspiring stories that have shaped her journey on and off the court. A three-time Olympic gold medalist, six-time WNBA All-Star, and the first person to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award as both a player and coach, Staley has shattered expectations at every level of the game.
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While her name resonates with both longtime WNBA fans and newcomers, she has kept her personal life private. Uncommon Favor reveals the journey that led to Staley’s success, including the challenges she faced. From dealing with sexism on the court to feeling isolated in new environments, Staley honed her skills and learned valuable life lessons about mental fortitude and maturity that have grounded her throughout her career. Beginning with her humble origins on the North Philadelphia basketball court and her rise to national fame at the University of Virginia—where she led her team to three Final Fours—Staley recounts the key moments that shaped her winning mindset. Staley’s iconic career in the WNBA and her groundbreaking coaching journey at the University of South Carolina highlight the milestones and turning points that have defined her success, both on and off the court. Fearless and authentic, Uncommon Favor shares the rewards of leading with conviction and the courage to redefine the limits of what is possible.
Why It Clicks
A straightforward memoir voice with enough grit, reflection, and sport to keep the pages moving.
Come here for
- practical lessons with a lived-in sports voice
- conversation-ready reflections on self and women
Expect
- memoir anchored in basketball and place
- accessible, steady storytelling over polish
Where it sits
| Sports Lives | 90% |
|---|---|
| Women's Lives | 40% |
| Sports | 36% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Sports Lives
- Personal Memoirs
- Sports
- Authors
- Dawn Staley
- Publisher
- Atria/Black Privilege Publishing
- Published
- May 20, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Sports Lives