When Dawn Staley advocated for Aaliyah Boston to win NPOTY, while praising Caitlin Clark: “Narratives have been created for her, she deserves it”

Dawn Staley has come across many star players throughout her ongoing coaching career in South Carolina; take Aliyah Boston, for example. She even encountered the likes of Caitlin Clark, when it revolved around players who garnered recognition for National Player of the Year.

When sports reporter Taylor Rooks interviewed Staley in March 2023, Boston and Clark were still in their collegiate careers as their star performances were rewarded with nominations for National Player of the Year. Boston, who played with the Gamecocks from 2019 to 2023, averaged 13 points, 9.8 rebounds, and two blocks.

However, Clark ended up winning the award after putting up 27.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.4 rebounds en route to leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship game. Despite this, Dawn Staley believes that Clark deserved the honor of being seen as the best player in the country.

"I don't want to get into the race thing, because I'm not race baiting, or any anything like that. Aaliyah looks different. She looks different, she's a big young woman, like she's a center. And usually centers aren't the players that are highlighted in that way," Staley said.

"But I mean, she's bubbly. If you pour it into like Caitlin Clark, we all know is the one that people feel like is the National Player of the Year, and these narratives that have been created for her and she deserves it. Honestly, she deserves it. I don't want people thinking I'm, you know, just trying to elevate my player. I'm not. I know what great players look like. I do. She is that."

Dawn Staley recently praised current player Chloe Kitts

Dawn Staley continues to boast star-level talent on her South Carolina squad, with Chloe Kitts being another example of her ability to develop players to the highest level possible.

After eight games, Kitts is averaging 12.1 points and 8.4 rebounds on 53.5% shooting from the field. She has improved on both sides of the ball as she progresses through her third season, receiving props from Staley.

"I'm happy because Chloe pours into herself. She does all the right things in regards to prepping herself... making lifestyle changes, in order for her to play this way. She wants to be a pro, so she's active in doing things and creating habits that will help her," Dawn Staley said, per Matt Dowell.

"So I want basketball to repay her for that every time she steps on the floor, because there's so many [players] that just come to practice, and that's it. She does all the extra, so I want basketball to repay her in this way a lot more times than it has."

Currently 8-1 on the season, No. 3 South Carolina is preparing for their matchup against No. 9 TCU at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 8 at 7 PM ET.