“Don’t want people thinking we’re stepping on Caitlin Clark”: When $12 million worth Dawn Staley shared her stance on narrative around Aliyah Boston

In a 2022 interview with Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley addressed the difference in media coverage around Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark. Swoopes expressed that there is prejudice in the way publications like ESPN prefer to cover Clark's performances and shun Boston's instrumental contribution to making South Carolina the top team in the nation.

Swoopes also used the argument to make Boston's case for the Player of the Year award. Dawn Staley acknowledged the four-time WNBA champion's concerns but emphasized how these narratives are helping promote women's basketball.

"I also don't want to be a part of the same old history that says that because Aliyah Boston is on the number one team, she should be player of the year," Staley said (9:46).

"I'm all for raising up our game. I want our game to be different. I don't want to have the same storylines, i don't want to be a part of a narrative that only speaks about one player...when our game is comprised of so many great players, Caitlin included."

"Caitlin won the Dawn Staley award, heck, she might win it again, back to back. So, I don't want people thinking that we're stepping on Caitlin to lift up Aliyah. It is like, let's talk about Caitlin, let's talk about Aliyah, let's talk about the young lady at DePaul (Aneesah Morrow)... Melissa Smith... Haley Jones and Cameron Brink..."

Less than two months after Sheryl Swoopes' concerns, Aliyah Boston won the Associated Press (AP) Player of the Year award during the Final Four game of the 2022 NCAA tournament.

Dawn Staley achieves major coaching milestone

Dawn Staley is one of the most successful coaches in recent years, having lifted the NCAA title thrice in the last seven years. She added another milestone to her career after the Gamecocks defeated Missouri (83-52) on Thursday as it was her 200th career win in the SEC.

She became the second-fastest coach to reach the milestone. Her 200-55 record is only behind Andy Landers (273) and Pat Summitt (306). Staley’s first win in the SEC came in 2009, against Ole Miss. South Carolina finished conference play with a 2-12 record that year.

The Gamecocks are currently 14-1 on the season (2-0 in SEC) and will play Texas A&M on Thursday to build on their conference record.