Over the past several months, the issue of whether or not transgender women should be permitted to participate in women’s sports has become one of the most hotly debated topics in politics and sports. But this week, South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley made her stance very clear on the matter.
During a press conference on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s NCAA title game showdown with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Dawn Staley was asked her stance on transgender women in sports, and she had a pretty blunt response.
“I’m under the opinion of if you are a woman, you should play,” Staley said. “If you consider yourself a woman and you want to play sports, you should be able to play. That’s my opinion. Do you want me to go deeper? Yes, so now the barnstorm of people are going to flood my timeline and be a distraction to me on one of the biggest days of our game. And I’m okay with that.”
Obviously, this stance on the matter led to a lot of reactions on social media, as she predicted.
What an incredible moment to have the top coach of the top team on the biggest stage face the question head on and stand up for trans women. Dawn Staley is remarkable.
— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) April 6, 2024
YES DAWN LET’S GO https://t.co/pXFzEL6RM1
— Big Daddy Drix 🏳️🌈 (@BigDaddyDrix) April 6, 2024
Dawn Staley rules. https://t.co/qDzMIYF3Ka
— Not A Basketball Fan (@drewhamm5) April 6, 2024
you can tell how much outkick cares about women’s sports when they show up and ask questions about the national anthem and trans women at the women’s final. dawn staley is a real one forever https://t.co/3mZQtNIk8N
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) April 6, 2024
Would like to hear from some people who care more about women's sports than <checks notes> Dawn Staley, though https://t.co/JMCbTkbRIP
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) April 6, 2024
A good reminder that inclusivity and Christianity DO mix https://t.co/VlJQA3ZOtY
— Liz a Bayley n NewJeans n AshbyElegance n cody fan (@freedompimp2012) April 6, 2024
For one of the most prominent coaches in women's sports to say this is huge. For one of the most overtly religious people in all sports to say this is huge, too. Way to be, Dawn Staley.
(This is only an issue because cynical people calculated it will get them votes. Full stop.) https://t.co/RVt2cHjcmO
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 6, 2024
Staley followed up that statement by leading her South Carolina Gamecocks to a national title on Sunday afternoon.
