Dawn Staley Has Blunt Message For Caitlin Clark’s Fan Base originally appeared on The Spun.
Dawn Staley knows what it’s like to face Caitlin Clark and her fan base.
The legendary South Carolina women’s basketball head coach faced Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes when she was in school. Staley, who starred at the University of Virginia, is now among the millions watching Clark play in the WNBA.
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The discourse surrounding Clark and the WNBA is something else. You have millions of people that seem to love her, crediting her with the rise of the league. Meanwhile, you have some others who seem to be rooting for her to fail.
Where does Staley stand?
TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 04: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on in the third quarter against the Texas Longhorns in the Final Four game of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 04, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball coach had a blunt message for Clark and her fan base.
Staley, who twice faced Clark in the NCAA Tournament, said that it’s fair to criticized Clark – and her fan base.
“She’s quite incredible, quite an anomaly when it comes to how many eyeballs she’s bringing on the game,” Staley said. “And the newness of those eyeballs — they only want her to do well. Only want you to speak very highly of her. Only, you know, want you to agree with what they agree with. And that’s kind of hard.”
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Staley said that it’s hard because, “we’re critics to everyone that plays the game. We’re critics. It is part of the fabric of sports. It’s part of athletics. It’s the competition. That’s what we do.”
The legendary coach added some thoughts on Clark’s game, too.
“For me, the most dangerous thing of Caitlin Clark is her passing ability,” she said. “Her ability to make other people better, and her ability to have other people’s production along with her production. That’s how you win.”
Staley loves that Clark is willing to take risks.
“She’s a risk taker when it comes to passing the ball, so she’ll turn the ball over some,” Staley said. “And that’s a great thing if you’re her opposition.”
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Staley said that it’s OK to point out her flaws, too.
“You want to highlight Caitlin Clark for what she does well,” she said. “But if you are her opponent, you want to zero in on the things that she doesn’t do well, right?”
Clark and the Indiana Fever are 6-6 on the year.
Dawn Staley Has Blunt Message For Caitlin Clark’s Fan Base first appeared on The Spun on Jun 22, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.