Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina women's basketball team, said in a press conference Saturday that male players who identify as transgender will play against women as long as they “consider” themselves to be women. He said that should be allowed.
After the Shamcocks' recent Final Four win, Staley was asked by a reporter about transgender participation in women's sports. She initially stated that “if she's a woman, she should play” and that “if she considers herself a woman, she…should be able to play.”
Asked to further explain whether this meant identifying men as transgender, Staley doubled down. “Yes. Yes,” she said, adding that she knew her answer would cause a “storm of people” on the timeline.
Following the reporter, a number of people, including several prominent commentators and activists, asked X for comment on Staley's comments. Among them was popular conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly.
“Great question. Horrible answer,” Kelly wrote to X. Oh, she'll be criticized. Yes, we get angry when girls and women are put at risk by the social justice warriors who are supposed to protect them. ”
Great question. Scary answer. And this coach puts all of the women's fairness and safety above her, causing her negligence. Oh, she'll be criticized. Yes, we get angry when girls and women are put at risk by the social justice warriors who are supposed to protect them. https://t.co/00VS9F0tnS
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) April 6, 2024
Outkick's Clay Travis also slammed Staley's comments.
The number of women actively supporting the abolition of women's athletics is staggering. But whether you believe that biology is real and men are bigger, stronger, and faster than women, or you believe in far-left politics, now is the time to choose. There is no middle ground.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 6, 2024
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Riley Gaines, a former college swimmer turned women's sports activist, also responded to Staley's comments. Gaines, who has been outspoken about the dangers and inherent unfairness of biological males participating in women's sports, posted a video of the interview and was cast in a 2023 comedy film produced by The Daily Wire. Quoted from “Lady Ballers.''
Lady ballers gather! https://t.co/EP0bxt4rv6
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 6, 2024
Gaines has a cameo in the film, which satirizes men who compete in women's sports, especially men who compete against women in basketball, and is featured on The Daily Wire, including Crain & Co. co-host David Cohn. Several personalities appeared, including David Cohn, who responded to Staley's remarks in a similar manner.
Cohn simply called it a “failure.”
failure #SaveWomenSports pic.twitter.com/mv3t1wNj1R
— David Cone (@davidadadamcone) April 6, 2024
Congressional candidate Adam Morgan said American tax dollars should not support “programs that advance these shameful ideologies.”
our @UofSC women's basketball coach @dawnstaley Argues that biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports.
Our tax dollars should not fund people and programs that promote these shameful ideologies that are inconsistent with SC values. @Riley_Gaines_ and @ClayTravis 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/rO1yjgCR92
— Adam Morgan (@RepAdamMorgan) April 6, 2024
Political commentator Robbie Starbuck said Staley “deserves all the criticism.”
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley said she supports men playing against women if they identify as women. She's willing to bet, though some of the girls on her team might disagree. She deserves all the criticism she's about to receive for this insanity.
pic.twitter.com/InQ0O0quUp— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 6, 2024
At the time of publication, Staley's comments were trending in X's “Sports” section.
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.