Dawn Staley says transgender athletes should be allowed to play

CLEVELAND (AP) — South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley said Saturday she believes transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.

Staley was asked during the press conference the day before her undefeated game against Iowa for the national championship her opinion on the matter.

“I’m of the opinion that if you’re a woman, you should play,” Staley said. “If you consider yourself a woman and you want to play sports, or vice versa, you should be able to play.”

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder was then asked the same question.

“I understand that this is a topic that interests people, but today I focus on tomorrow’s game, on my players,” Bluder said. “It’s an important game we have tomorrow, and that’s what I want to be here to talk about. But I know that’s an important question for another time.

The topic has become a hot topic among conservative groups and others who believe transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete on women’s and women’s sports teams. Last month, more than a dozen current and former college athletes filed a federal lawsuit against the NCAA, accusing the governing body of college sports of violating their rights by allowing transgender women to compete in sports. women’s sports.

At least 20 states have approved some version of a blanket ban on transgender athletes playing on K-12 and collegiate sports teams statewide, but a Biden administration proposal to prohibit such outright bans is expected to be finalized this year after multiple delays and much resistance. As proposed, the rule would establish that blanket bans would violate Title IX, the landmark gender equity legislation enacted in 1972.

In 2022, the NCAA revised its policies on the participation of transgender athletes in what it called an attempt to align with national sports governing bodies. The third phase of the revised policy adds national and international standards from the sport’s governing bodies to the NCAA rules and is expected to be implemented on August 1.

Staley, a prominent voice in women’s sports and a two-time AP Coach of the Year, said she understands the political nature of the question and the reaction her answer might provoke.

“So now the Barnstormer people are going to flood my calendar and distract me on one of the biggest days in our game,” she said. “And I agree with that. I am really.”