The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team, Dawn Staley, has raised an incredible crop of players since 2008. A standout among them, Aliyah Boston, was a unanimous First-team All-American who led the side to an NCAA championship in 2022 and won numerous awards, including the SEC Player of the Year, the John R. Wooden, and Naismith.
Now, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year is vying for the 2025 WNBA MVP award, at least according to Staley, who showed support to her former player on X/Twitter on Saturday.
Can you spot the @WNBA MVP candidate?!! If you need some help it’s @GamecockWBB @aa_boston!! pic.twitter.com/7t50YbwFVS
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 12, 2025
However, not many seem to be as happy with Staley’s support of former Gamecocks as Boston. When the 55-year-old posted the picture, several fans asked her why she hasn’t been to more WNBA games this season.
“Why haven’t you been to a game ?” wrote one fan.
“Coach Staley how come you don’t roll up to any of AL’S games. Do her right,” said another.
“I love how you support gamecock players. But you didn’t come to fever to support her??” claimed another individual.
“Are you going to come watch her at a game?” asked one fan.
“Come see her play!!” demanded another.
The comments were so widespread that the South Carolina coach was forced to reply with some humor to them.
“For those of you that’s so worried about me checking out my @GamecockWBB players…..see you at the @WNBA All-Star game…..now will yall be there?! If you’re not should I believe you don’t love your favs? 🤣🤣🤣,” Dawn Staley wrote on her X handle.
For those of you that’s so worried about me checking out my @GamecockWBB players…..see you at the @WNBA All-Star game…..now will yall be there?! If you’re not should I believe you don’t love your favs? 🤣🤣🤣
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 13, 2025
Dawn Staley is busy on the road recruiting a five-star prospect out of New York
One of the reasons why Dawn Staley hasn’t shown up to more WNBA games is that she has been busy with the Gamecocks’ recruiting efforts. On Friday, she was in Louisville, Kentucky, for the Nike EYBL Run 4 the Roses showcase in which five-star recruit Olivia Vukosa was present.
Vukosa, who played for Christ the King High in Middle Village, New York, is considered the fifth-best recruit prospect and the best overall center in the nation for the class of 2026. While she hasn’t scheduled a visit to South Carolina yet, Vukosa already told On3 that she has a good relationship with Staley, saying:
“Coach [Dawn] Staley is a great person. I don’t get to talk to them all the time, but when I do, it is like the conversation picks up right where it left off. She has brought great energy, and so does her whole staff.”
It could be that the purpose of the trip to Kentucky was for Staley to improve the chances of the Gamecocks getting hold of one of the top recruits in the country. If that’s preventing him from showing up to support former players of hers, nobody can blame her for prioritizing her job.
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