South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley is receiving backlash for supporting her former player A’ja Wilson in the 2025 MVP campaign. On Monday, Sept. 8, Staley uploaded a photo on X/Twitter, featuring an emoji with golden teeth and pink lips and a caption about Las Vegas Aces superstar Wilson.
The former Gamecocks stalwart is one of the few frontrunners for this year’s regular-season MVP award. Should Wilson win the MVP award once again this year, she will go back-to-back after her 2024 trophy and take home her fourth MVP award in her eight-year career.
As we wind down the @WNBA season, just would like to thank all the talented women who gave us a season of all seasons. If there’s truly no funny stuff in the air @_ajawilson22 really is the MVP. I’m biased but the historical numbers and run their on aren’t. pic.twitter.com/UR4MyDSJGj
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) September 8, 2025
College basketball fans online are not too happy about coach Staley campaigning solely for Wilson to be the 2025 WNBA regular-season MVP.
“You’re in the media, you’re supposed to be unbiased, not campaigning,” one user captioned.
“You’re very biased so we really not listening to you, no shade,” another user claimed.
“Get out my face, Dawn,” another said with a GIF of Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant.
“Man, this isn’t your business to be in,” a user posted.
“Just pretending like there aren’t two other players right in the running,” another pointed out.
Other users argued that what Staley is doing could be detrimental to women’s basketball.
“‘If there’s truly no funny stuff in the air.’ As if this tweet itself is not the definition of ‘funny stuff’. It’s trying to pressure people into making a particular MVP vote. The same type campaign that began before the 2024 WNBA season even started,” one user explained.
“Every year it’s the same stupid rhetoric. There’s definitely more than one deserving player this year, even an excellent third candidate,” another user wrote.
“Trying to imply that if anyone else wins, they didn’t deserve it is just nasty. 💀,” a user shared with a skull emoji.
“Will you also make a tweet to campaign for Allisha Gray’s career-high season? maybe even Aliyah Boston All-WNBA? Te-Hina Paopao All-Rookie? Or is this only reserved for grandma’s favorite?” another questioned, mentioning some of Staley’s former players.
Wilson has put up another monstrous campaign this year, similar to her 2024 MVP season.
The 29-year-old is currently averaging 23.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.2 blocks per contest to lead coach Becky Hammon’s Aces to an overall record of 28-14, good for the third seed in the West.
Read More: “Understood How To Take The Punch”: Dawn Staley’s Former South Carolina Star A’ja Wilson Sends Clear Message On Aces’ Win Streak
A’ja Wilson And Napheesa Collier Currently Lead The 2025 WNBA MVP Race
As per Fox Sports, both A’ja Wilson and Minnesota Lynx sensation Napheesa Collier are the two most likely winners of this year’s regular-season MVP award.
Currently, Wilson has the better odds at -350 while Collier follows closely behind at +255. The two stars have been going back and forth with the MVP placements, with Collier leading most of it this season, but Wilson is doing a late-campaign push.
Also Read: “I Was Trying To Be A Sponge”: When A’ja Wilson Opened Up On Team USA Experience With Dawn Staley Helping Her South Carolina Career
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