South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley criticized the NCAA and President Mark Emmert for the disparity in the benefits granted to women’s teams compared to men’s teams playing in the NCAA tournament.
His comments came after photos circulated on social media showing a men’s weight room in Indianapolis full of equipment and only a weight rack available for women in San Antonio.
Tournaments are being played in condensed locations this season because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mention was also made of the differences in the quality of food available at the venues, the “gifts” given to players and the COVID-19 tests being administered.
“There is no answer that the NCAA executive leadership led by Mark Emmert can give to explain the disparities,” Staley posted on Twitter on Friday night. “Mark Emmert and his team decided to create them! The real issue is not the weights or the ‘gifts’ bags. They did not think or think that female players ‘deserved’ the same amenities as men. “
Staley’s team is the number one seed in the tournament, which starts on Sunday.
NCAA leaders apologized on Friday and said questions about food and weight equipment were being addressed. Emmert said the differences in COVID-19 testing were due to different test vendors in Indiana and Texas.
For Staley, words were not enough.
“We cannot, as leaders of young women, allow Mark Emmert and his team to use us and our student-athletes at their convenience,” wrote Staley, 50. “Every team here in San Antonio has earned and deserves at least the same level of respect as the men. All the teams here have dealt with the same problems as the men’s teams this season, but their ‘reward’ is different.”
Staley is in her 13th season as a South Carolina coach, who won the national championship in 2017 and is in her ninth NCAA tournament under her management. One of the most prominent players of his time, Staley was six times a WNBA All-Star and won three Olympic gold medals. She was consecrated at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Gamecocks (22-4) are the seed in the Hemisfair region and will play against No. 16 Mercer (19-6) on Sunday.
– Field-level media
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