In her third consecutive Final Four appearance, Dawn Staley leads the South Carolina Gamecocks. She’s focused on getting her tournament team set, then facing Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
However, a blogger on Saturday made the decision to inquire about transgender athletes’ participation in sports. The question was answered expertly by Staley.
“If you consider yourself a person, and you want to play sports, or vice versa, you should be able to play,” Staley said.
Her response didn’t address the issue of trans women competing in the sport of women. The writer responded with a specific question about whether she was in favor of that plan.
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“Yes,” Staley said bluntly. “So the ferocity of people are going to flood my timeframe and distract me in one of the biggest days of our sport,” she said. “And I’m OK with that.”
Far-right information inventor: “Do you think that transgender women should be able to perform in women’s sports”?
Dawn Staley, coach of SC’s women’s basketball team, doesn’t hold back: “Yes… and people are going to flood my timeline … and I’m ok with that”.
Wow! pic.twitter.com/XxLDwDZUdB
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) April 6, 2024
Days later, Lisa Bluder, head coach of Iowa, was the subject of the same basic inquiries. As opposed to Staley, she avoided giving a clear answer.
“I understand it’s a subject that people are interested in,” Bluder said, according to ESPN’s Katie Barnes. “But now my focus is on the activity tomorrow, my people. It’s an essential match we have tomorrow. And that’s what I want to be here to talk about. But I am aware that it will require another time to address an important topic.”
Some individuals have criticized the person who brought up the problem. While the series of queries is genuine, though the timing may be better. Asking these kinds of concerns 24 hours before a game of epic proportions seems … misplaced.
Also, leaders in women’s activities will continue to be asked questions about this subject.
The issues resemble Alex Lee of MMA Fighting addressing former anti-LGBT warrior Sean Strickland. The difference is that Strickland had previously (and unfavorably) engaged in the conversation. Lee’s concerns of Strickland were entirely correct, especially days back of a fight.
These transgender sports were left out of the question paper in the Final Four. Outsports is aware that Staley and Bluder had previously had an open discussion.
Also, good on Staley for answering immediately. And Bluder’s failure is completely natural. Maybe she will reveal her thoughts again.
Of course, the conversation is a lot more difficult than cover “yes” and “no” solutions. An important component of the dialogue is the need for a skilled change. In a press event like this, there’s little space for extensive diatribes and complexity.
Staley hopes to win her fourth NCAA National Championship as a coach on Sunday. After falling to LSU and Kim Mulkey in the Final last month, Bluder now seeks her second federal name.
