When Dawn Staley alleged media bias against Aaliyah Boston compared to other PoTY winners such as Sabrina Ionescu and Paige Bueckers

Dawn Staley coached Aliyah Boston during her playing career with the South Carolina women's basketball team, as the latter won National Player of the Year in her final season in 2022.

Staley discussed the subtle difference in narrative around Aaliyah Boston as a Player of the Year candidate on an episode of the "NETLIFE with Dawn Staley" podcast uploaded to YouTube in February 2022.

She discussed the media's apparent bias against Black female basketball players with WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, comparing Boston's Player of the Year season to the likes of Sabrina Ionescu, Paige Bueckers, and Kelsey Plum among others.

Swoopes asked Staley if the different narrative around somebody like Aliyah Boston was purely because of race or was it due to flashy players grabbing more attention than consistent performers. Staley said it was a combination of multiple factors, while acknowledging that the narrative was a bit different when it was about Black female players.

"It's (the media campaign) a lot different, and I've seen Breanna Stewart, I've seen that [POTY] campaign, I've seen that narrative. I've seen Sabrina Ionescu, I've seen Paige Bueckers. I've seen Kelsey Plum. I've seen A'ja Wilson. I've seen it like I've seen it, you know, right in front of my very eyes," Staley said.

She even noted how ESPN, who is heavily involved in discussions regarding the best players in the sport of women's basketball, don't tend to pivot their stances even with ever-changing circumstances. She sees it to play an impact on how national awards are decided, especially involving the aforementioned players.

"I have researched it a little bit. I've talked to different people who've worked at ESPN, because basically ESPN, they are the decision makers of women's basketball or men's basketball...They choose who is going to be the person, the team, and it doesn't matter what's happening out there on the floor or if that team is no longer the team, they don't pivot. They don't pivot enough, in my opinion. So it's all of that."

Dawn Staley, Gamecocks maintain place in new AP Top 25 poll

Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks are rolling through the regular season with a 14-1 record, including an ongoing nine-game winning streak.

This has allowed them to remain near the top of the AP Top 25 among the country's best. The Associated Press updated their rankings on Monday, showing South Carolina maintain their place at the second spot. They trail only undefeated UCLA, who gave the team their only loss of the season.

The squad has been successful in beating opponents by wide margins. They average 82.5 points on 46.9% shooting from the field, including 35.4% from beyond the arc. Their scoring defense of 55.2 points has allowed them to win games by 27.2 points per contest.

Dawn Staley and the No. 2 Gamecocks will prepare for their next matchup, hosting the Texas A&M Aggies at the Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. ET.