Tag: Dawn Staley

The reaction to Angel Reese taunting Caitlin Clark is a sickening case of double standards

The reaction to Angel Reese taunting Caitlin Clark proved Dawn Staley’s point about double standards.

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After South Carolina’s bid for a perfect season came up short Friday, head coach Dawn Staley had a message for the media in her postgame press conference.

“Watch what you say.”

Staley had been hearing the ways her predominantly-Black team was being talked about in certain circles, and she planned to address it regardless of the game’s result.

Before the subject could get lost in the moment, a reporter asked Staley for the truth about her team, which was often described as a bully.

“The truth about our team … We’re not bar fighters. We’re not thugs. We’re not monkeys. We’re not street fighters. This team exemplifies how you need to approach basketball on the court and off the court. And I do think that [is] sometimes brought into the game, and it hurts.

“Some of the people in the media, when you’re gathering in public, you’re saying things about our team and you’re being heard. And it’s being brought back to me.”

What Staley described is racism, at worst. At minimum, it’s an implicit bias common in sports: Black women are the aggressors in proximity to their non-Black counterparts. In basketball, that type of bias influences how athletes are covered, coached, officiated, and ultimately perceived by the public.

Less than 48 hours later, we saw those exact biases and double standards go to work when LSU’s Angel Reese was ridiculed for taunting Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who was widely celebrated for doing the same thing to another player a week earlier.

The great ambassador for women’s basketball that she is, Staley should have been applauded for bringing this issue to the forefront. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, it’s something better addressed earlier than left to fester and become normal.

There was no better person to speak about it than a Black woman who has experienced these biases first-hand, as both a player and coach. Already a Hall of Famer, Olympic gold medalist and two-time champion, Staley doesn’t have anything left to prove. She’s simply someone who has seen and heard everything there is to be seen and heard about basketball. If she says something is happening, we should listen.

Instead, Staley was doubted by people like columnist Peter Vecsey and called a sore loser or a victim who was playing the race card – sentiments that did nothing but prove the exact point she was making.

People would rather live with their unchecked biases than look themselves in the mirror and admit they harbor harmful thoughts, which is sad and the type of behavior that allows racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and so forth and so on to exist.

Seeing it play out the way it did — just in the same way Staley pointed out how her team was talked about — put a real damper on what was otherwise an incredible Final Four.

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Quick Hits: LSU-Iowa officiating gets slammed … Wrestlemania madness! … The “ghost fork” makes its regular-season debut … and more.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

— The officiating for the women’s title game got ripped

— Wrestlemania 39 featured Snoop Dogg hitting The Miz with a people’s elbow and Johnny Knoxville heckling. Also, Logan Paul put his business partner KSI through a table.

— Have you seen the ghost fork pitch from Mets hurler Kodai Senga? You should see what it did to Yuli Gurriel.

Aliyah Boston forgoes COVID year, declares for WNBA draft

The Indiana Fever received the first pick in the 2023 WNBA draft which is where Boston’s former teammate Destanni Henderson currently plays.

South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston is forgoing her COVID year of college eligibility to enter the 2023 WNBA draft. The draft takes place on April 10 and is televised on ESPN from 7-9 p.m. EST and available on the ESPN app.

The Gamecocks lost to Iowa in the Women’s Final Four on March 31 which was their first loss in over a year. While it was a devastating blow, the team picked themselves up and made tough decisions. Boston decided to enter the WNBA draft and officially announced it on April 1 via Twitter, less than 24 hours after the loss.

“I’m going to tell her to go,” Staley said in the news conference after the Gamecocks’ loss to Iowa. “There are defenses that are played against her that won’t allow her to play her game, and then it’s hard to officiate that. … She’s great. She’s ready. She’s ready to see single coverage. She’s ready to make the next step to the league.”

The WNBA held its 22nd annual draft lottery on Nov. 11 to determine the order. The Indiana Fever received the first pick which is where Boston’s former teammate Destanni Henderson currently plays. Henderson was drafted with the No. 20 overall selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.

“She is exactly what the Fever needs,” Staley told USA TODAY. “Whatever challenges that the Fever have had in the past, there are things with Aliyah they will never have to worry about. Like coming in with an incredible example of what a professional should look like, even as a rookie. She will elevate even their most veteran player.”

She is projected to go No. 1 in the draft and when you look at her 2022 accomplishments, not to mention her whole career, it is hard to disagree. She was also named the 2023 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

Boston enters the draft with a bright future ahead in the world of professional basketball. She elevated the game of basketball and was a consummate professional and teammate. Any team would be lucky to have such a kind, strong, and dominant player on their team and she will uplift her teammates both on and off the court. Thank you Aliyah for allowing us to witness your greatness these past four years.

Dawn Staley could coach men’s basketball, but she doesn’t want to. And that’s awesome.

South Carolina, and growing women’s college basketball, is her mountain.

In 1980, N.C. State wanted to hire Morgan Wootten as its next men’s basketball coach. Wootten had built DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland into a powerhouse, winning – at that time – four high school national championships. He’d win another one in 1984, a few years after he turned down the Wolfpack’s offer to jump to the Division I college level. When Wootten declined N.C. State’s overtures, he said, “As far as climbing mountains, they are where you find them.”

It is apparent now that Dawn Staley’s mountain is in women’s college basketball.

A week ago, before Temple University hired Adam Fisher as its new men’s basketball coach, there was a whole lot of folks on Twitter clamoring for Temple to hire Staley.

That notion is not totally absurd; just a bit misguided.

Staley is, indeed, a great coach – one of the best working in basketball at any level today (and one who coaches with a ton of style and swagger).

She has turned the University of South Carolina into one of women’s college basketball’s capitals. After leading the Gamecocks to a pair of national titles – and perhaps a third this weekend – the South Carolina brand is on par with UConn, Tennessee, Stanford and Notre Dame as a perennial power in the sport that wins titles and produces standout players.

But before Staley coached at South Carolina, she was the women’s basketball coach at Temple. She’s also a Philadelphia native.

And so, stuff like this was said when the Temple men’s job opened up:

During a press conference on Thursday at American Airlines Arena in Dallas ahead of the Final Four, Staley set the record straight. She was asked about people suggesting her as the next head coach of the Temple men.

“No thoughts,” Staley said. “I don’t want to coach in the men’s game.”

She also added, with a soft laugh, “It’s cold up there too.”

Climates aside, let’s be clear: Dawn Staley can coach men or women, at any level, and be successful.

Let’s also be transparent about this: Being the head coach of the Temple men’s basketball team is a job that is beneath Dawn Staley. At South Carolina, Staley has a program that produces WNBA MVPs and competes for national championships. And South Carolina values her, giving her a seven-year extension in 2021 worth $22.4 million, making her one of the highest-paid women’s coaches in the country. Even if Staley was interested, Temple can’t afford her.

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And let’s also be crystal about this: Staley’s eyes are not wandering toward other mountains. Being the best coach in women’s college basketball, and growing the sport, is the challenge that she has taken on. And some day – if we aren’t already doing so – we’re going to mention her name in the same breath as Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt and C. Vivian Stringer as the greatest coaches this game has ever seen.

“Coach is a legend. That’s just what she is,” said South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston, who will likely be the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft. “For us to be coached by her, it’s something truly special.”

People often suggested that Auriemma, Summitt and Stringer should coach men, too. They never did. When Summitt was once asked why, she said, “I wouldn’t want people to think I looked at the men’s game as a step up.”

Staley is making the same point here. She most certainly could coach the Temple men, or the 76ers, or Kentucky or whoever. And she most certainly would win a lot of games. Men or women, teenagers or adults, it’s basketball. And Staley knows basketball.

But she knows she doesn’t want to coach men. And that is perfectly fine. Choosing not to coach men does not diminish her accomplishments – 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven SEC titles, five Final Fours, three Coach of the Year awards, one Olympic gold medal.

Again, one more time for the folks in the back: Staley does not need to coach men to be great.

That people keep suggesting Staley should take a men’s coaching job says that they believe she would be successful at it. Doesn’t that already say enough?

This weekend, the average price for a ticket to the women’s Final Four is $97 higher than the men’s. Viewership for the women’s Elite Eight games was up 43 percent this year from last season. Viewers have consumed 4.7 billion minutes of the NCAA women’s tournament this year – the most ever on record.

And Staley and her undefeated Gamecocks are a big reason why.

“As far as using my voice, I think I’ve been asked a lot more questions because of our success,” Staley said. “I think the platform has gotten bigger because of our success.”

Hawkeyes Final Four facts: Get to know the South Carolina Gamecocks

The Hawkeyes get their shot at South Carolina in the Final Four. Here is a breakdown of the Gamecocks’ season, top players, and coaching.

The stage is set. In their second-ever NCAA Final Four appearance, the Iowa Hawkeyes are tasked with dethroning reigning champions South Carolina.

That’s right folks, South Carolina. We are now in the big leagues facing the best of the best for a chance at the National Championship. The Gamecocks have dominated this March Madness, blowing out Norfolk State and Southern Florida before defeating tough opponents in UCLA and Maryland.

This is what Dawn Staley’s team has done all season. As the top team in the nation, they’ve dominated the teams that they should put into the dirt while constantly locking in to defeat the tougher opponents. For how tough their road to the Final Four has been, they haven’t faced a team soaring quite like the Hawkeyes yet.

Iowa took that massive loss to Maryland at the end of the season personally. After that 96-68 loss to the Terps, the Hawks have rattled off eight straight victories. They’ve seemingly hit that next level this postseason, set to prove that their second seed doesn’t mean a thing. They’re out to win the whole thing.

If star guard Caitlin Clark has her way, she will cut down the nets when it’s all said and done. The likely Player of the Year exploded in the Hawkeyes’ Elite Eight matchup against Louisville, with the first-ever 40-point triple-double in an NCAA Tournament game.

On the other side is the mighty undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks. Led by Dawn Staley and reigning Player of the Year Aliyah Boston, they aren’t keen on giving up their crown just yet. They want a repeat.

Ahead of possibly the biggest matchup in NCAA women’s basketball history, here is a look at South Carolina.

What to know before LSU’s Final Four showdown with Virginia Tech

Here’s what you need to know before LSU squares off with the Hokies.

For the first time since 2008, LSU has the opportunity to compete for a national title.

[autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] marched LSU to the Final Four in Year 2. With a transfer-heavy rebuild that featured the additions of [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexis Morris[/autotag] among others, LSU has ascended to be one of the nation’s premier teams.

It won’t come as a surprise to those familiar with Mulkey’s work. It happened fast, but this is right where LSU was supposed to be.

The Tigers will face Virginia Tech, a 31-4 No. 1 seed. LSU, a three-seed, is the lowest remaining seed left.

But let’s not waste any more time. Here’s a look at what LSU faces in Dallas and what lies ahead on the road to a title.

South Carolina has history on its side to win the 2023 women’s NCAA tournament

South Carolina has history on its side in the 2023 women’s NCAA tournament.

The South Carolina women’s basketball team has history on its side as it prepares to defend its title.

The top-ranked team’s 86-75 victory over No. 2 Maryland on Monday will set it up for a marquee matchup with No. 2 Iowa in the 2023 women’s NCAA tournament’s Final Four.

At 36-0, South Carolina has proven to be unstoppable this season. Perfection can work in your favor in the women’s NCAA tournament, as nine of the previous 13 teams to go undefeated and reach the Final Four have won the entire bracket, per ESPN.

You never know what happens in the tournament’s last weekend, but South Carolina has all the momentum it needs to win another championship.

South Carolina hasn’t lost a game since March 6, 2022, to Kentucky in the SEC Championship. Since then, the team won the 2022 women’s NCAA tournament and hasn’t looked back.

This is the team’s third-straight Final Four appearance since 2021, and head coach Dawn Staley is poised to lead her team to another national title. At least that’s what history is telling us.

Dawn Staley pays homage to HBCU history by wearing a classic Cheyney State jersey in NCAA tournament win

With a crisp throwback jersey, Staley paid respect to Yolanda Laney.

We’ve seen Dawn Staley make statements with her sideline fashion before.

She wore a Randall Cunningham jersey ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles’ appearance in this year’s Super Bowl and won her second national championship last season while decked out in Louis Vuitton.

On Sunday, while coaching her No. 1 seeded South Carolina Gamecocks to a 76-45 second-round victory over No. 8 South Florida in a nationally televised NCAA tournament game, Staley paid homage to HBCU and women’s basketball history by sporting a throwback Cheyney State University jersey.

The jersey Staley wore was incredibly fresh and clean, a white shirt with blue sleeves and lettering. It featured the number 44, which belonged to Yolanda Laney, who played on the 1982 Cheyney State team that went to the national championship game in Norfolk, Va.

To this day, Cheyney State is the only HBCU team to ever advance to the Final Four in women’s college basketball, doing so in 1982 and 1984. In 1982, the Wolves lost in the title game to a Louisiana Tech team led by a feisty guard by the name of Kim Mulkey. In 1984, Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Volunteers topped Cheyney in the Final Four.

Those Cheyney teams were coached by Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer, who later guided Iowa and Rutgers to Final Fours too. Laney is a nominee for the Naismith Hall of Fame this year.

Cheyney has faded from the spotlight in the sport over time, and the school dropped its NCAA Division II status in 2018. This season, the Cheyney Wolves competed in volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball, unaffiliated with a conference or a NCAA division.

Still, they’ll always be the first HBCU to play for a women’s basketball national championship at the Division I level, and they’ll always hold a historic spot in the minds of the sport’s fans. Cheyney is located less than 30 miles from Philadelphia, where Staley grew up. She was 12-years-old when Cheyney played for a national championship.

“Yolanda Laney… She’s from Philly, grew up — she actually started leagues for us. Like when I was younger, we played in something called the DBL, and she was very much a part of creating that league to give younger players an opportunity to just come together and play in the summertime. So, fond memories of that,” Staley said after Sunday’s game. “I mean, Cheyney State was the only HBCU to make it to a Final Four, and for them to be led by coach Stringer, who opened doors that now I walk through, I mean, it was truly an honor to wear this jersey and to represent them.”

The Gamecocks remain undefeated this season and are now advancing to their ninth consecutive Sweet 16 behind the play of Aliyah Boston, who will likely be the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft. South Carolina’s victory over USF marked Staley’s 400th as the Gamecocks coach.

Dawn Staley pays tribute to history-making HBCU with outfit

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley never misses an opportunity to respect the culture and educate on the history of Black women in basketball.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley never misses an opportunity to respect the culture and educate on the history of Black women in basketball.

In her second-round game against South Florida in the 2023 March Madness Women’s NCAA Division I tournament, Staley wore Louis Vuitton pants and a Cheyney State jersey.

Cheyney State is an HBCU that played in the first Division 1 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship tournament which took place in 1982. Not only did they play, but they also made it to the championship game. Cheyney State was and remains, the only HBCU to make it to the championship game and to the Final Four.

Cheyney State made it back to the tournament and won one game in 1983 and three games to advance to the Final Four in 1984.

Staley honored Cheyney State and her former coach, Yolanda Laney, by wearing Laney’s number and replica jersey. Laney led Cheyney State to the championship game back in 1982.

Staley’s outfit always turn heads because her style is impeccable, but this outfit has more behind it than a fancy label. The history it elicits is strong and important. Staley’s team played HBCU Norfolk State in the first round and beat them decisively. But, Staley took the time to go to the locker room and speak to the players and motivate them to keep pushing forward.

While Norfolk State lost to the Gamecocks, the ripple effect of playing in a game like this against the No. 1 seed was not lost on their coach or the media.

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Staley is constantly pushing the game forward and making sure she lifts others up along the way.

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Five takeaways from LSU women’s basketball’s loss to No. 1 South Carolina

Here’s what we learned from the loss at South Carolina.

LSU is undefeated no more. The Tigers suffered their first loss of the year Sunday afternoon facing the nation’s top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.

The top-five showdown pitted an SEC powerhouse in South Carolina against an emerging contender in LSU. It was a match between two of the sport’s best coaches with [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] and Dawn Staley walking the sidelines.

South Carolina raced out to an early lead and while the Tigers hung around, LSU could never fully fight back. The final was 88-64 after South Carolina outscored LSU 46-32 in the second half.

[autotag]Alexis Morris[/autotag] had a game-high of 23 points while [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] scored 16. Kamilla Cardoso led South Carolina with 18 points, followed closely by Zia Cooke’s 17 points.

Here were the takeaways from the loss.

Dawn Staley repped her hometown Philadelphia Eagles with an iconic jersey as South Carolina faced LSU

Staley won’t miss a chance to support her Eagles, especially not on Super Bowl Sunday.

It might be gameday for the No. 1 South Carolina women’s basketball team, but for Philadelphia native Dawn Staley, it’s also Super Bowl Sunday. Staley doesn’t mess around when it comes to rooting for her hometown Philadelphia Eagles, and she’s not going to miss an opportunity to show her support. Since the divisional round on January 29th — in which the top-seeded Eagles took down San Francisco — Staley has sported Philly-related sweatshirts and jerseys on the sidelines.

On this Super Bowl Sunday, Staley and the Gamecocks faced No. 3 (and also undefeated) LSU at home. To commemorate the occasion, she busted out an amazing Randall Cunningham jersey.

The good news is the Gamecocks will be done before kickoff. Can Staley get two big wins in one day?