OutKick’s Riley Gaines Says She Was Blocked Online by S. Carolina Coach Dawn Staley After Criticizing Her Support for Trans Athletes
OutKick’s Riley Gaines revealed she was blocked by Dawn Staley after she criticized the coach for her support of trans athletes.
The day before South Carolina’s national championship win over Iowa, Staley was asked by OutKick reporter Dan Zaksheske about transgender women competing in women’s athletics. Staley set the internet ablaze when she expressed support for trans athletes, saying, “If you consider yourself a woman… you should play.”
Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who competed against Lia Thomas, was disappointed with Staley’s stance and called her out in multiple tweets.
“Major props to South Carolina and that team,” Gaines said. “Going 38-0 is virtually unheard of.
“But I can’t help but be bummed for those girls knowing @dawnstaley would trade any one of them for a mediocre boy with an identity crisis.”
Major props to South Carolina and that team. Going 38-0 is virtually unheard of. 👏🏼🔥🐐
But I can’t help but be bummed for those girls knowing @dawnstaley would trade any one of them for a mediocre boy with an identity crisis pic.twitter.com/1dPr0nnuXF
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 8, 2024
I wonder if Dawn Staley also supports 18u playing with 12u, heavyweights fighting the featherweights, or olympians competing in the Paralympics.
✨so brave of her!✨ https://t.co/PBZPcqLNzt
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 6, 2024
Dawn Staley knows perfectly well that men’s basketball is a totally different sport than women’s basketball
That’s obvious by the speed of the game, the size of the ball, the sheer amount of layups compared to dunks when a player gets a fast break https://t.co/uUgLpxIDbo
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 6, 2024
On Monday morning, Gaines posted a screenshot revealing Staley blocked her on the platform.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 8, 2024
Gaines apparently wasn’t alone. OutKick founder Clay Travis claimed Staley had done the same to him for his criticism.
This is perfect. Men playing women’s sports? @dawnstaley is all for it. Me saying men shouldn’t play women sports? Immediate block. pic.twitter.com/zCOjGzT0HC
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 8, 2024
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