GLAAD ELEVATES CHAMPIONSHIP COACH DAWN STALEY’S SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDER WOMEN IN SPORTS

AND FACTS ABOUT TRANSGENDER INCLUSION, SAFETY AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL PLAYERS AND FANS

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

GLAAD: “The women’s game has never been stronger or more popular, with incredible play and record-breaking viewership. Coach Staley simply spoke the truth that trans women are women and should play if they want. All of us can take a page from Coach Staley’s playbook as a sports leader and person of high integrity guided by faith, compassion and common sense. True champions empower and inspire others to their absolute best. Everyone wins when all are welcome.”

(Monday, April 8, 2024) GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is elevating the allyship and accurate uplifting messages from NCAA women’s basketball championship coach Dawn Staley in support of transgender women in sports.

Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks won their third national championship on Sunday, concluding an undefeated season. ESPN reported that Staley was named national coach of the year, with South Carolina the first team in 25 seasons to reach the Final Four and go undefeated without returning any starters from the previous year. Poynter reported record-breaking viewership of the women’s March Madness tournament, including estimates of 20 million viewers for the championship game on Sunday, and 14.2 million for Saturday’s Iowa-Connecticut game, the most-watched basketball game ever on ESPN, including men’s games, women’s, college and professional.

On Saturday, Staley responded to questions at a news conference at the Final Four tournament about transgender women in sports.

“I’m of the opinion … if you’re a woman, you should play. If you consider yourself a woman and you want to play sports or vice versa, you should be able to play. That’s my opinion,” Staley said, then followed up with the reporter. “You want me to go deeper.” The reporter started: “Do you think transgender women should be able to participate …” Staley responded, “That’s the question you want to ask, I’ll give you that. Yes, yes. So now the barnstormer people are going to flood my timeline and be a distraction to me on one of the biggest days of our game, and I’m OK with that. I really am.”

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis responded on Monday (also on Instagram):
“Coach Staley and her championship team electrified the sports world and elevated excellence on and off the court. Transgender athletes are few in number but have long been included in the NCAA’s inclusive policies to zero negative effect on any other player or the game itself. In fact, the women’s game has never been stronger or more popular, with incredible play and record-breaking viewership throughout a thrilling season and tournament. Coach Staley simply spoke the truth that trans women are women and should play if they want. All of us can take a page from Coach Staley’s playbook as a sports leader and person of high integrity guided by faith, compassion and common sense. True champions empower and inspire others to their absolute best. Everyone wins when all are welcome.”

Additional research:

• The NCAA has welcomed transgender participation in sports since at least 2010.
• The International Olympic Committee released guidelines more than two years ago to support transgender participation, written in consult with medical, athletic and human rights professionals, stating there should be “NO PRESUMED ADVANTAGE BASED ON SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH OR SEX CHARACTERISTICS”.
• There is no evidence that transgender women are dominating women’s sports or posing a threat to sports or other athletes. Swimmer Lia Thomas, the best-known and most defamed transgender collegiate athlete in history, followed all protocol to participate, in a year that also saw cisgender swimmers break four world records and finish ahead of Thomas in the races she participated in.

Olympian Erica Sullivan came in 2nd after Lia Thomas at the NCAA Championships 500-meter free and wrote that she’s proud to support Lia and all trans athletes.