In the high-stakes lead-up to the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship between the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks and the powerhouse UConn Huskies, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley is receiving widespread praise—not just for her team’s dominance, but for publicly calling out ESPN over what she says is a misrepresentation of her words.
At a Saturday morning press conference, Staley was asked about Paige Bueckers, UConn’s standout guard and the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
While showing respect for Bueckers’ talent, Staley raised concerns about how national narratives tend to spotlight individual stars while overshadowing collective accomplishments—particularly those of her undefeated squad, who are vying for their third national title in four years.
“I want the sentiments to be about our players and what our players have been able to do – equally, because there’s room to do both,” Staley said. “We can raise Paige up because she deserves that and raise our players up because they deserve that. And that’s not talked about enough.”
However, ESPN’s headline and social media framing of the comments drew Staley’s ire.
A post from the network’s women’s basketball account read, “Dawn Staley says narrative around Paige Bueckers and her quest to win a title has overshadowed South Carolina’s feats.”
Staley promptly replied to the post on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “LIES! Fix your headline please!”
Fans rallied behind Staley, applauding her for setting the record straight and defending her players’ legacies.
“Keep standing up for what you stand for! You’re a class act and a legend!” one supporter wrote. Another added, “Typical for someone to twist the words of @dawnstaley. Clearly just being an advocate for her players because they have been overlooked in the past.”
Critics of ESPN’s handling of the story said it was an attempt to stir controversy on the eve of one of the biggest matchups in recent women’s basketball history. Several users pointed out that their attempts to correct ESPN’s interpretation were hidden or ignored.
One fan wrote: “Call them out, Coach. This business of trying to pit players and teams against each other on a personal level does nothing to advance the game.”
As the basketball world prepares for the much-anticipated South Carolina-UConn face-off, Staley’s comments and the surrounding media fallout underscore a deeper issue in women’s sports: the selective shaping of narratives and who gets to be celebrated.
For Staley, it’s not about taking away from Bueckers’ excellence—but ensuring that the history her own players are making is recognized with the same energy.
“Let’s not choose one player over another player’s history,” she said. “We’re all creating history for our game.”
