Dawn Staley Partnered With Dove Sport Program
The basketball coach joined forces with Dove to provide body confidence resources for young female athletes.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Basketball
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Dawn Staley has partnered with the Dove Body Confident Sport Program to provide free resources aimed at building body confidence in girls. The initiative seeks to prevent young athletes from dropping out of sports due to body image concerns.
Why it matters
The program aims to combat low body confidence among female athletes, a significant factor contributing to high dropout rates in youth sports. By providing educational tools to mentors, the partnership seeks to ensure young girls remain engaged in athletics.
Data shows that 45% of girls abandon sports because of body confidence issues, while 48% of those who quit attribute their decision specifically to body type criticism. The broader Dove Self-Esteem Project has reached 160 million young people to date.
The players
Dawn Staley
She is a decorated basketball coach and a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Dove Body Confident Sport Program
This initiative provides free body confidence educational resources to mentors, coaches, and teachers working with girls.
The details
The program offers educational materials specifically designed for coaches, teachers, and trainers to help them foster a positive environment for girls ages 11 to 17. Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is leveraging her platform to promote these resources to a global audience.
Timeline
September 26, 2026: The partnership was announced.
Season Trajectory
This partnership follows the established community outreach model set by the Dove Self-Esteem Project. It marks a targeted expansion into youth athletics, directly addressing barriers that prevent young girls from developing as competitive athletes.
Coaches and mentors working with girls ages 11 to 17 can now access free educational materials to address body image concerns in their training programs. These resources are designed to help keep young athletes involved in sports by creating more supportive team environments.
The takeaway
Empowering young athletes with body confidence tools is essential for maintaining participation in competitive sports. Mentors are encouraged to utilize these free resources to foster a healthier and more inclusive environment for female athletes.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the sport through our Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Essence.
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