South Carolina HC Dawn Staley backs Aliyah Boston

South Carolina HC Dawn Staley backs Aliyah Boston

The Indiana Fever lost 88-84 to Connecticut Sun on Monday. The game could have ended differently if Fever center Aliyah Boston had not missed the layup in the final four seconds of the game.

Fans on X berated Boston for the missed play, but South Carolina coach Dawn Staley came to the defense of her former player. Staley tweeted:

“And I’m still going to give the ball to @aa_boston!! Believe that!”

Aliyah Boston spent four years playing for the Gamecocks. She helped South Carolina win the NCAA championship in 2022. The same year, Boston was named AP Player of the Year, and Naismith College Player of the Year.

The two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2023 WNBA draft.

Dawn Staley’s endearing support for the WNBA and NBA

With college basketball off-season, Dawn Staley has taken her time to support other sports like the women’s and men’s pro leagues.

She was seen attending two Philadelphia 76ers playoff games against the New York Knicks, in one of which she even rang the ceremonial bell before the tip-off.

Staley was also seen on the courtside at the New York Liberty vs Indiana Fever game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday. She caught up with her former Gamecock players Aliyah Boston and Victaria Saxton, who represent the Fever.

After Las Vegas Aces’ Kate Martin blocked a shot during the tip-off against LA Sparks, Staley tweeted:

“Kate Martin is a G! 🤣🤣🤣”

On May 11, the Las Vegas Aces played a WNBA exhibition preseason game against Team Puerto at Colonial Life Arena. This was the first time a WNBA game was played on a college campus. With the heightened attention on women’s college basketball, coach Staley and the Aces hoped to carry some of that over to the pro league.

“It should happen more often, you just have to get the financial backing,” Staley said. (via Greenville Online)”If we want to grow the game, somebody should find the funding because it’s beautiful, the turnout is going to be great, the talent, the coaching, the atmosphere will be great and it’s what our sport needs.

It’s a great start, but we need to insert some more innovative ideas to push the needle forward.”

What do you think of Dawn Staley and her support for the league? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.