Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines has publicly criticized South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley for her stance on transgender athletes in women’s sports. Staley recently stated that anyone who identifies as a woman should be permitted to compete on an all-female team. However, Gaines, speaking on “Fox & Friends” on Monday, questioned the sincerity of Staley’s remarks.

Despite acknowledging Staley’s impressive coaching record, which includes two championships and a remarkable 109-3 record during her tenure at South Carolina, Gaines suggested that Staley’s position on transgender athletes raises doubts about her competence or integrity. Gaines implied that Staley may have compromised her principles, stating, “She’s either proving herself to be entirely incompetent or a sellout, and personally… I don’t think she believes what she said.”

The criticism intensified with a depiction of a scene involving two basketball players, accompanied by the statement, “She knows perfectly well that men’s basketball is a totally different sport than women’s basketball… It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her once-in and she blew it,” attributed to Riley Gaines.

Gaines highlighted Staley’s hesitation and discomfort during a press conference when asked about transgender athletes in women’s basketball. According to Gaines, Staley’s silence and the noticeable pause before taking a sip of water spoke volumes, suggesting that Staley may have felt pressured to give a politically correct response.

The controversy arose during a press conference on Saturday when OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske asked Staley about her stance on transgender athletes competing in women’s college basketball. The debate surrounding transgender participation in women’s sports continues to provoke passionate discussions and disagreements within the athletic community.

 

Women have a much bigger hill to climb than I thought" - Riley Gaines criticizes Dawn Staley's views on transgender issues

In a recent statement, Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina basketball team, expressed her belief that anyone who identifies as a woman should have the opportunity to play sports, regardless of their biological sex. When asked specifically about transgender women participating in women’s college basketball, Staley affirmed her support, stating, “Yes.” Despite the potential backlash and distractions that might ensue from voicing her opinion on such a contentious issue, Staley remained steadfast in her stance.

However, Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and contributor to OutKick, criticized Staley for what she perceived as a missed opportunity to support female athletes. Gaines argued that Staley’s endorsement of transgender participation in women’s sports was a failure to stand up for the integrity of women’s basketball. Gaines pointed out the fundamental differences between men’s and women’s basketball, emphasizing factors such as game speed, ball size, and style of play. She suggested that Staley’s acquiescence to allowing transgender women to compete in women’s basketball undermined the integrity of the sport.

Moreover, Gaines accused Staley of being complacent in her position, suggesting that Staley may only confront the consequences of her stance when her team faces defeat at the hands of teams featuring transgender players. Gaines’s critique of Staley’s position garnered attention, with Staley reportedly blocking Gaines on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, following Gaines’s appearance on “Fox & Friends.”

The debate surrounding transgender participation in women’s sports continues to be a contentious issue, with strong opinions on both sides of the argument. Staley’s support for inclusion has sparked criticism from some quarters, highlighting the complexities and challenges inherent in navigating the intersection of gender identity and athletics.