This year NCAA Women’s College Basketball Tournament was the most watched – and arguably most successful – women’s college sporting event in history. Millions plugged in to see if the South Carolina Gamecocks would have a perfect championship seasonto see how much Caitlin Clark, Iowa Hawkeyes legend would light up the scoreboard in his second straight appearance in the finals and whether his final college game would be a victory. But Saturday, the day before the national championship match, which South Carolina won 87-75a conservative sportswriter asked South Carolina coach Dawn Staley — a legend on the field and off the sidelines — one of the stupidest questions possible.
Staley was asked if trans women should be allowed to play women’s basketball.
On the eve of the national championship game, which South Carolina won 87-75, a conservative sportswriter asked Staley one of the stupidest questions possible.
There were no trans players in the championship game the next day. There were no trans women in the Final Four this weekend. In fact, there are no openly trans college basketball players in Division I women’s basketball. To say the issue is irrelevant is an understatement.
» still asked Outkick journalist Dan Zaksheske. Trolling female sports figures about trans women quickly became what he is known for as a journalist.
In response, Staley answered the question directly. “I’m of the opinion that if you’re a woman, you should play,” Staley said. “If you consider yourself a woman and you want to play sports, or vice versa, you should be able to play. It’s my opinion. »
Staley’s response unleashed a predictable storm on social media, with the usual list of professional X-rated transphobes talking about it on the timeline, as well as trans people praising Staley. Staley took her place among other women’s sports legends who openly support trans inclusion in women’s sports, including former professional basketball player Sue Bird and her wife, the former women’s national team legend. United States Soccer, Megan Rapinoe.
Hearing Staley so openly support the inclusion of girls like us while on the cusp of one of the biggest matches of her career was a big boost for trans women in the United States, who have suffered enormous political losses on this issue in recent years. a few years.
At least 20 states have banned trans girls and women from participating on girls’ and women’s teams in K-12 and collegiate sports, including Iowa and South Carolina, the states represented in Sunday’s championship game. This is despite the fact that, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, only 34 trans athletes to have Never participated in collegiate sports, which featuring over half a million athletes in all sports every year.
So now a storm of people is going to flood my calendar and distract me on one of the biggest days in our game. And I’m okay with that. I am really.
It’s the epitome of a non-issue, and yet one man, Zaksheske, brought this into the spotlight in the middle of a Final Four weekend that drew unprecedented attention. Whether trans girls and women should play sports may be a hot-button political issue for a small minority of people in the United States, but Zaksheske disrespected the sport and the teams preparing for the championship game talking about it on Saturday.
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder had the right approach when she refused to answer a similar question asked of her by the same reporter. “I understand that this is a topic that interests people, but today I focus on tomorrow’s game, on my players,” Bluder said. “It’s an important game we have tomorrow, and that’s what I want to be here to talk about, but I know that’s an important question for another time.”
Ultimately, no matter how you feel about the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports, there is a time and place for questions and debate on the topic. Reporters could have asked Staley anything, how she planned to silence Clark, her own legacy as a player and coach, the historic television ratings for this tournament.
It is not up to Staley or Bluder to entertain the personal political obsessions of the reporter who asks questions at their press conferences. Zaksheske attempted to dig up controversy and put himself in the spotlight rather than allowing coaches and players to shine before the most critical game of their season.
The teams in Sunday’s final deserved better. It’s a tribute to Staley that she took such a stand. “So now a storm of people is going to flood my calendar and distract me on one of the biggest days of our game,” she said during Saturday’s press conference, “and I’m agree with that. I really do.”
Staley and his team didn’t let the controversy distract them. They went out and won the national title on Sunday and finished the season 38-0. As a player, coach – and now trans ally – Dawn Staley is an absolute legend.
