South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley recently responded boldly to an X/Twitter user. On Monday, Aug. 4, Staley shared the user’s post wherein it was claimed that Staley was promoting child pornography by following 17-year-old internet personality and musician Lil Tay on Instagram.
The user wrote:
“Hey, fun fact: Dawn Staley follows the minor Lil Tay on IG, knowing that this is a 17-year-old girl promoting child porn.”
The 55-year-old claimed that she was not aware of Lil Tay and how she was following the social media influencer. Staley asked the user if their post was just to promote bullying towards her on social media.
“Also, another fun fact… I don’t know you nor Lil’ Tay… I’ll continue, don’t know how I’m following someone I don’t know but social media is weird and so is someone else in this convo. So, is this a bullying tactic?” Staley wrote.
Also another fun fact….I don’t know you nor lil tay…..I’ll continue don’t know how I’m following someone I don’t know but social media is weird and so is someone else in this convo. So is this a bullying tactic? https://t.co/YVp9fFHylj
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) August 4, 2025
Staley is coming off a 2024-25 season in which she and her Gamecocks program finished with an overall record of 35-4 (15-1 SEC). They were defeated by the UConn Huskies by 23 points, 82-59, in this year’s NCAA championship game.
Dawn Staley says the growth of women’s basketball has long been overdue
Appearing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May of this year, Dawn Staley promoted her first-ever book titled “Uncommon Favor.”
The South Carolina Gamecocks head coach was asked about her thoughts on the overall rise in popularity and awareness of women’s basketball. The tactician said the growth has taken more time than it should have.
“It’s a breath of fresh air, it’s long overdue. Our game has been held back for so long, and now it almost seems like there are not enough outlets for us to showcase all of our talents, and now is the time when you get to see the likes of an A’ja Wilson almost on any night of the week. You get to see the likes of Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Breanna Stewart. You get to see women play during the peak of their careers,” Staley said (5:05).
Staley now heads into the 2025-26 season with her Gamecocks looking to avenge their foiled 2024 national championship defense and win the national title for a third time in the last five years, giving their program its fourth national championship.
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