Dawn Staley media coverage may have influenced answer on trans athletes in women's sports, OutKick writer says

Dan Zaksheske talks about the South Carolina basketball coach's support for trans athletes in women's sports on "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich."

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley’s support for transgender athletes in women’s sports went viral over the weekend ahead of the Gamecocks’ national championship win over Iowa.

OutKick writer Dan Zaksheske appeared on "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich" on Monday and assessed what he thought about Staley’s answer. He pointed to a problem with those who cover women’s college basketball, suggesting the Hall of Famer’s answer was influenced by the protection she’s received.

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South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley speaks at a press conference after defeating Iowa in the finals of the women's basketball NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on April 7, 2024. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

"I do think there’s a problem, going back to my earlier answer on how there really isn’t a women’s college basketball media, she’s so protected," Zaksheske said. "They protect the heck out of her. I almost feel like she knew that that’s the answer they wanted, and they have done her so much good service covering her. It’s always positive, except the God stuff."

"Other than that, they love everything she stands for. She’s Black. She talks about racism. She talks about misogyny. She does everything they want her to do. They just protect and promote her. I don’t believe that Dawn Staley believes that. That’s my opinion.

"Based on her religious leanings and just the fact that she’s been in women’s college basketball for as long as she has. You think she wants men in women’s college basketball? I don’t think so. I think that moment when she took