"Hard fought for sure": Dawn Staley lauds New York Liberty for WNBA title win after intense Game 5

The New York Liberty won their first WNBA championship on Sunday, and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley congratulated the team on X. The finals series between New York and the Minnesota Lynx was a thrilling run, with the Liberty taking Game 5 67-62 in overtime to lift the championship.

"Congrats @nyliberty on your first @WNBA championship! Hard fought for sure!" Staley wrote on X Sunday.

Dawn Staley has been one of the biggest supporters of the WNBA this season, as she was spotted at multiple games and even provided commentary on her X account. The league enjoyed a rise in attention and viewership this season, and Staley spoke about it during an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" in August.

"I don't think it's a fad," she said. "I think women's sports has been held back for a very long time, and now we're at a place where we're in high demand. There's room for everybody, but in a way in which we have to do it strategically where it makes sense.

"I'm glad we are in this place, I do think that it's a movement that people are joining in on. I'm on 'Morning Joe,' I watch 'Morning Joe' every morning, but I never would have imagined I'd be on the show."

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Dawn Staley called to bridge the gap between college and WNBA

While college sports enjoy an ardent fan following, the same could not be said about the professional league, specifically the WNBA. This year, thanks to super rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, the league saw an increase in viewership numbers and conversations online.

Even before the season began, Dawn Staley had spoken about the need for the WNBA to employ more innovative methods to grow the game.

“We have to grow our game, and we have to bridge the gap between college and the WNBA,” she said. "I think our fans do it — our fans follow our players from South Carolina throughout wherever they end up. But we’ve got to continue to bridge that gap.

"College coaches have to talk about it, anybody has to really get on their bullhorn and talk about what’s happening in our game. Any business that you’re part of, marketing is the key. I know the WNBA’s novelty has worn off. So, you’ve got to continue to have innovative ways to capture fans, the corporate dollars and such.”

Dawn Staley played in the WNBA from 2000 to 2008 while she was still working as a coach at Temple.