Ted Lasso may be a fictional coach, but it seems he's earned the respect of a real one.
Actor and "Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis revealed that the titular character in the hit sitcom, a college football-turned-Premier League English soccer coach, admires South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley. He even said that Staley's memoir, "Uncommon Favor," is on Lasso's reading list.
Staley seemed to appreciate the shoutout, thanking Lasso on Twitter for reading her book. She even extended an invitation for Sudeikis to attend a Gamecocks game during the upcoming season.
"Legendary NCAA coach, former WNBA player, and all-around bada** Dawn Staley teaches us how to face life's setbacks and hiccups with a game face so strong it'll knock you right
off the court," Lasso's description of Staley's book on the reading list says. "Coach (Chris) Beard swears by this one."
@jasonsudeikis Mr. Lasso himself thank you for reading Uncommon Favor!! Can’t wait to see you on at a @GamecockWBB game! https://t.co/obRCArspd1
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) August 7, 2026
Spoiler alert: Lasso could learn a thing or two from Staley, as his fictional AFC Richmond club never wins a Premier League title in the series. Staley, meanwhile, has accumulated three national titles and eight Final Four appearances in her nearly two decades coaching South Carolina.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Dawn Staley thanks Jason Sudeikis for Ted Lasso book shoutout
