Few people were left sitting when South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley took the stage Thursday night to accept the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2024 ESPYS at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

Staley was honored for her work advocating for cancer research and bone marrow donors. Staley's sister, Tracey Underwood, who attended the awards ceremony, and Staley's friend and former assistant coach, Nikki McCray-Penson — who died July 7, 2023 — both had cancer.

Underwood was diagnosed with leukemia in 2020 and needed a bone marrow transplant, after which Staley began her efforts to increase awareness for the need for bone marrow donors, especially those in the Black community, and inspire people to sign up on the bone marrow registry, Be The Match, now known as NMDP.

"I am profoundly honored and deeply moved but I must confess I feel a little undeserving of this recognition. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Award have faced incredible challenges and proven themselves as true warriors. I have merely been a spectator to such immense resilience," Staley said to open her speech.

Actress Quinta Brunson, like Staley a Philadelphia native, and Stuart Scott's two daughters presented the award to Staley. Scott, a former ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor, won the award 10 years ago. He also had cancer, and died on Jan. 4, 2015.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Staley wrote a message Saturday to honor McCray-Penson.

"On this day a year ago, our basketball community lost a great soul @NikkiMccray15 not a day goes by I don’t think of you. It makes me (sad face emoji) knowing you’re not here to share in life’s most precious thing….TIME. I love you deeply Nik Nik! Say hi to the big fella and my mom! We got U!"

The 2023-24 South Carolina women's basketball NCAA championship team was nominated for "best team" — which it won — and was in California for the awards show. Staley had her players stand up for appreciation.

"I try my best to do things the right way knowing some little girl is out there watching me, maybe she's growing up in the projects of North Philly like I did . . . or maybe she's one of the 13 pair of eyes that every single little thing I do and makes sure to comment on it, that's my team.

"How do I not fight injustice when I ask them to do the things the right way, how do I not fight for equity when I tell them they can climb as high as they want . . . How do I not fight pay disparity when I do the same job and get paid less, but win more."

Former South Carolina player A'ja Wilson was nominated for and won both "Best WNBA player" and "Best athlete, women's sports." Basketball legend Candace Parker presented the latter award to Wilson — a two-time WNBA MVP and WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces — who accepted the award via video message and thanked Staley.

Prior to her speech at the ESPYS, Staley celebrated the 50th anniversary of USA Basketball with former Olympians, current players, coaches and former President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

OBAMA AND STALEY: Former President Barack Obama hugs Dawn Staley, says he's proud of South Carolina coach

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina's Dawn Staley Jimmy V Award cancer research at ESPYS