CLEVELAND — South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley on Saturday said she believes transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
During a news conference a day after her No. 1 Gamecocks beat NC State in the Final Four and advanced to the national championship game against Iowa, the legendary was asked for her opinion on the issue.
“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.”
Hours later, Iowa coach Lisa Bluder was asked the same question.
“I understand it’s a topic that people are interested in,” Bluder said. “But today my focus is on the game tomorrow, my players. It’s an important game we have tomorrow, and that’s what I want to be here to talk about. But I know it’s an important issue for another time.”
The debate over whether or not transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in accordance with their gender identity has grown heated in state houses, court houses, sport governing bodies and in the court of public opinion over the past four years.
