“They don’t treat women’s basketball as a sport”: When $12 million worth Dawn Staley gave her 2 cents on lack of Black female coaches

Dawn Staley commented the on the number of black female coaches across Division I basketball landscape in the Jan. 11, 2024 episode of "Jemele Hill is Unbothered." Staley noted that there has been a rise in number when it comes to having black individuals in authoritative positions.

However, the coach also listed out the persistent challenges that act as a barrier from having enough black female coaches and athletic directors in women's basketball.

"Well one, they don't treat us like a sport, that's one," Staley said (Timestamp 14:40). "They don't treat women's basketball like a sport. Two, we've moved the needle as far as decision makers - there are a couple of more black ADs, especially in the power five conferences but there aren't enough."

With that, Dawn Staley claimed that there isn't an intentional hiring for black female coaches, citing that rise of black athletic directors will help balance the numbers as they are the ones capable of offering the role.

"We need more people, we need more presidents who are who are black, we need more athletic directors who are black because those are the people that are providing those opportunities for head coach."

In the 1999-2000 season, only 9.5% of all women's basketball leaders were black female coaches. The number grew to 21% in the 2020 season. Moreover, the 2023 Final Four featured two black coaches for the second time in NCAA history, Staley and Virginia Tech's Kenny Brooks.

Nevertheless, there is still a lack of diversity in leadership roles. In 2020-21 season, black athletes made up for 40.7% of women's basketball players, while the coaches made up for roughly 22%.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina continues record-breaking SEC run

As the No. 2 South Carolina dusted the No. 5 Texas Longhorns (67-50) on Sunday, the program built its active longest streak of SEC wins to 51 games. It was also the Gamecocks' 67th consecutive home-win. While it falls short to UConn's 99-game home winning streak by 32, it is currently the longest active streak.

Dawn Staley's crew is currently in the toughest slate of the season. All of their next four games are against ranked programs - No. 19 Alabama, No. 13 Oklahoma, No. 5 LSU and No. 15 Tennessee.