{"id":19832,"date":"2021-04-02T14:17:55","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T19:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19832"},"modified":"2021-04-02T14:17:55","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T19:17:55","slug":"dawn-staley-and-adia-barnes-ncaa-womens-head-coaches-will-make-history-in-the-womens-final-four","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19832","title":{"rendered":"Dawn Staley and Adia Barnes, NCAA WOMEN’S HEAD COACHES, Will Make History In The Women\u2019s Final Four"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dawn Staley and Adia Barnes make history as Black head coaches in the Final FourDAWN<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n
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Dawn Staley made no bones about it \u2014 she was rooting for Arizona to advance to the Final Four. The South Carolina coach wasn\u2019t thinking about matchups or anything that would have an impact on who won the 2021 NCAA women\u2019s basketball tournament. She was simply thinking about representation.\"a<\/span> \u00a0Arizona’s Adia Barnes is one of two Black head coaches in the Final Four.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>The NCAA has been hosting a women\u2019s basketball tournament since 1982, and for the first time in its history, the Final Four will feature two Black women as head coaches.Staley and the Gamecocks, who won the 2017 national championship, will face Stanford at 6 p.m. Friday. On the other side of the bracket, the Adia Barnes-led Wildcats will make their first Final Four appearance and meet Connecticut at 9:30 p.m.Dawn Staley, another title in sight, won\u2019t stop speaking out: \u2018I can\u2019t not do it\u2019Both are also former WNBA players.<\/strong>\u201cThere are so many Black coaches out there that don\u2019t get opportunity because when [athletic directors] don\u2019t see it they don\u2019t see it,\u201d Staley said. \u201cAnd they\u2019re going to see it on the biggest stage of a Friday night that two Black women are representing two programs in the Final Four, something that has never been done before. Our history here in women\u2019s basketball is so filled with so many Black bodies that for this to be happening in 2021, to me, is long overdue. But we\u2019re proud.<\/strong>\u201cRepresentation matters. .\u2009.\u2009. Not just give them the job. Bring them in. Interview them. If you don\u2019t hire them, let them know why. Let them know why so we can continue to work on and just perfecting our craft and our profession because there are a lot of people out there that aren\u2019t getting the opportunities that they should because this is exactly what can happen when you give a Black woman an opportunity.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Three other things to watch for at the Final Four<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The outsider: Connecticut, Stanford and South Carolina are all No. 1 seeds that have a national championship on the r\u00e9sum\u00e9. All three are coached by Hall of Famers who have been named Associated Press national coach of the year. Then there\u2019s Arizona, making its first Final Four as a program that hasn\u2019t had a WNBA draft pick since 2013.<\/strong><\/p>\n

None of that matters now as the Wildcats are two wins from their first title with conference player of the year and co-defensive player of the year Aari McDonald leading the way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, we believe that we can accomplish something great this year,\u201d senior forward Trinity Baptiste said. \u201cWe believe we can win it all. That\u2019s where it starts, with us believing in order to accomplish something. As far as the other teams, I just approach every game like it\u2019s the same. I don\u2019t really look at an opponent and approach the game different because of the name on their jersey.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a good feeling just knowing that you\u2019re making history along the way. Just looking at my teammates and coaches, just a joy that I felt that I wouldn\u2019t want to feel with anybody else.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Heavy hitters: There is no lack of star power heading into the final weekend with each team featuring some of the biggest names in the game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The game\u2019s latest star is Paige Bueckers, the national player of the year. The firsts have piled up as the U-Conn. product is the first freshman to win the award and also the first to be named Big East player of the year, freshman of the year and conference tournament most outstanding player in the same season. The 5-foot-11 guard is averaging 20.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from behind the arc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Carolina is headlined by 6-5 forward Aliyah Boston, a first team all-American who averaged 13.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. The Athletic named her national player of the year<\/a>, and the sophomore is a finalist for Naismith defensive player of the year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Three players to watch in the women\u2019s Final Four besides Paige BueckersMcDonald, a 5-6 senior guard for Arizona, has averaged 20.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and her 91 straight games scoring in double digits constitute the longest active streak in the nation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Third-team all-American Kiana Williams sets the tone for Stanford with 14.5 points per game and 3.1 assists. The 5-8 senior guard is playing in her hometown of San Antonio and holds the program record for the most made career three-pointers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A future promise: The NCAA created separate bubbles in Indianapolis and San Antonio for the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments to limit the chances of a coronavirus outbreak that would force a team to forfeit. Those bubbles, however, put on full display the inequities between the men\u2019s and women\u2019s setups. From the weight room to the food provided to the marketing efforts and even the logos used on the floor, the women were clearly treated as less than.<\/strong><\/p>\n

NCAA President Mark Emmert acknowledged the issues, which are not new but were more obvious when the two bubbles were compared, and apologized. He committed to addressing those issues in the future.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is pretty self-evident that we dropped the ball in supporting our women\u2019s athletes,\u201d Emmert said Thursday during a news conference. \u201cHow do we make up for those shortcomings from this day going on and create the kind of gender equity that we all talk about, I talk about, everybody talks about but make sure that it\u2019s a reality, not just language?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

WHO IS “Dawn Staley”<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Dawn Staley<\/strong><\/caption>\n
\"Dawn<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Staley in 2012<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Carolina Gamecocks<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Position<\/strong><\/th>\nHead coach<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
League<\/strong><\/th>\nSoutheastern Conference<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Personal information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Born<\/strong><\/th>\nMay 4, 1970 (age\u00a050)<\/span><\/strong>
\nPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nationality<\/strong><\/th>\nAmerican<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Listed height<\/strong><\/th>\n5\u00a0ft 6\u00a0in (1.68\u00a0m)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Listed weight<\/strong><\/th>\n134\u00a0lb (61\u00a0kg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Career information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
High school<\/strong><\/th>\nDobbins Tech<\/a><\/strong>
\n(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
College<\/strong><\/th>\nVirginia<\/a> (1988\u20131992)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WNBA draft<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n1999<\/a> \/ Round: 1 \/ Pick: 9th overall<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Selected by the Charlotte Sting<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Playing career<\/strong><\/th>\n1996\u20132006<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Position<\/strong><\/th>\nGuard<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number<\/strong><\/th>\n5<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coaching career<\/strong><\/th>\n2000\u2013present<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Career history<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
As player:<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1994\u20131995<\/strong><\/th>\nTarbes Gespe Bigorre<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1996\u20131998<\/strong><\/th>\nRichmond \/ Philadelphia Rage<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1999\u20132005<\/strong><\/th>\nCharlotte Sting<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2005\u20132006<\/strong><\/th>\nHouston Comets<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
As coach:<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
2000\u20132008<\/strong><\/th>\nTemple<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008\u2013present<\/strong><\/th>\nSouth Carolina<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2017\u2013present<\/strong><\/th>\nUnited States<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Career highlights and awards<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
As player:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Stats<\/a> at WNBA.com<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Basketball Hall of Fame as player<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Medals<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Women\u2019s basketball<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Representing the \"\"\u00a0<\/span>United States<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Olympic Games<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n1996 Atlanta<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2000 Sydney<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2004 Athens<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World Cup<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n 1998 Germany<\/a> <\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n 2002 China<\/a> <\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Bronze<\/strong><\/td>\n 1994 Australia<\/a> <\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Universiade<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n1991 Sheffield<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Head coach for the \"\"\u00a0<\/span>United States<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
World Cup<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2018 Spain<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pan American Games<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2007 Rio<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTeam<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
U19 World Championship<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2015 Chekhov<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FIBA U18 Americas Championship<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n2014 Colorado Springs<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Dawn Michelle Staley (born May 4, 1970)<\/sup> is an American basketball<\/a> Hall of Fame player and coach. Staley is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and was elected to carry the United States flag<\/a> at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics<\/a>. After playing point guard for the University of Virginia<\/a> under Debbie Ryan<\/a>, and winning the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics<\/a>, she went to play professionally in the American Basketball League<\/a> and the WNBA<\/a>. In 2011, Staley was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history. Staley was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a> in 2012. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a> in 2013.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While still a WNBA player, she started coaching the Temple University<\/a> Owls women’s basketball team in 2000. In eight years at Temple, she led the program to six NCAA tournaments, three regular season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On May 7, 2008, she was named head coach for women’s basketball at the University of South Carolina<\/a>. Over the following six seasons, she improved her program’s record every year, culminated by winning the SEC in 2013\u20132014. In late 2014 her team achieved the program’s first #1 ranking, making her only the second individual to both play on and coach a #1 ranked team. Staley has gone on to lead South Carolina to five SEC regular season championships, five SEC tournament championships, six Sweet Sixteens, two Final Fours, and on April 2, 2017, she guided the South Carolina Gamecocks to the program’s first NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On March 10, 2017, she was named head coach of USA national team<\/a>.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

On April 2, 2020, Staley became the first person to win the Naismith Award<\/a> as a player, and also as a coach. She also won the other three major National Coach of the Year awards, after she led her team to a 32 win season and a final ranking of #1 in both major polls, before the Tournament was cancelled.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Dawn Staley and Adia Barnes make history as Black head coaches in the Final FourDAWN Dawn Staley made no bones about it \u2014 she was rooting for Arizona to advance to the Final Four. The South Carolina coach wasn\u2019t thinking about matchups or anything that would have an impact on who won the 2021 NCAA […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[330,11,8,1314,1456,1156,13,14,104,187,1,1282,7,9,10],"tags":[3888,1715,3889,3887],"class_list":["post-19832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball-sports","category-business","category-entertainment","category-global-business-entrepreneurs","category-global-news-updates-and-more","category-global-sports","category-health","category-most-commented","category-ncaa","category-ncaa-basketball","category-news","category-olympics","category-sports","category-us","category-world","tag-1970-age-50-philadelphia","tag-dawn-staley","tag-pennsylvania-nationality-american-listed-height-5-ft-6-in-1-68-m-listed-weight-134-lb-61-kg-career-information-high-school-dobbins-tech-philadelphia","tag-staley-in-2012-south-carolina-gamecocks-position-head-coach-league-southeastern-conference-personal-information-born-may-4","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}