Dawn Staley couldn’t wait for fate to intervene. Fresh off her “CBS Mornings” appearance on August 8, 2025, the South Carolina women’s basketball coach made a bold move, shooting her shot directly at Oprah Winfrey through Instagram, pitching her bestselling memoir “Uncommon Favor” for the media mogul’s legendary book club.

The Hall of Fame coach’s direct appeal highlights her determination to share her journey from North Philadelphia housing projects to three NCAA championships with the widest possible audience.

Why Did Dawn Staley Make This Direct Appeal to Oprah?

After appearing on “CBS Mornings” on August 8, 2025, Staley took to Instagram with a post addressing Oprah directly. Her strategy was refreshingly straightforward: thank the CBS team and then pivot to her real target.

In her social media message, she thanked the CBS team, including Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Adriana Diaz, for their interview. “Thank you @CBSMornings @gayleking @nateburleson @adrianadiaz for reading UNCOMMON FAVOR–your questions were in depth & truly brought life to the interview!” she wrote.

Then came the money shot. The key part of her message was directed at Oprah: “By the way, @oprah it is a quick great read your book club would enjoy. If you haven’t gotten your copy yet it’s ready!” Staley recommended her book to Oprah, suggesting it would be something her book club might like.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Just three days earlier, on August 5, Oprah had announced her latest Book Club selection, “Bridge of Sighs” by Richard Russo, during her “CBS Mornings” appearance. That means Oprah’s audience is primed for book recommendations, and Staley seized the moment.

Oprah’s Book Club is one of the biggest names in book publishing today. Books chosen for the club usually see huge sales jumps and reach millions of readers worldwide. Getting Oprah’s support could help her book achieve even more success.

What Makes “Uncommon Favor” Perfect for Oprah’s Book Club?

Staley’s CBS appearance was part of a major promotional tour for “Uncommon Favor” since its May 2025 release. The accomplished coach has been making rounds on multiple high-profile shows, including “The Daily Show with Ronny Chieng” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Her book focuses on the journey from North Philadelphia housing projects to basketball stardom. Staley writes about overcoming challenges and building the mindset that transformed her into one of college basketball’s most respected figures. This kind of inspirational story aligns perfectly with the themes Oprah typically champions in her book selections.

Since hitting shelves, “Uncommon Favor” has already achieved remarkable success. The book quickly became a New York Times bestseller and continues to receive positive reviews for its honest portrayal of her rise in basketball.

Meanwhile, Staley has continued her dominance on the court. Since joining South Carolina in 2008, she has built a basketball dynasty with three NCAA championships, including a perfect 2024 season. The Hall of Fame coach recently became the highest-paid women’s basketball coach in history, adding another layer to her compelling story.

Staley’s message to Oprah shows her commitment to reaching more people with her story. The basketball coach continues promoting her book aggressively, hoping to connect with new readers through Oprah’s influential platform. Whether Oprah responds remains to be seen, but Staley has made her pitch in the most direct way possible.