Fans criticized South Carolina coach Dawn Staley after her response to the intense WNBA semifinals game between former players A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston.

Boston’s Indiana Fever is currently tied two games apiece against Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces with a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line.

Dawn Staley Stays Calm Amid Former Players’ Playoff Battle

After ESPN reporter Holly Rowe suggested Staley “has to be hyperventilating” watching the intense matchup between Boston and Wilson, the legendary coach responded with a confident tweet.

“I’m actually pretty calm. I can’t lose. There will be a @GamecockWBB or two in the @WNBA Finals. They are both built for this moment… dominating players on every level they have played. We are all now witnesses!” Staley confidently wrote.

The tweet reflects Staley’s pride in her coaching legacy at South Carolina. Wilson helped deliver the Gamecocks’ first NCAA championship in 2017, while Boston brought home their second title in 2022. Both players earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors during their respective championship runs.

Staley’s message highlighted how her program continues to dominate at the professional level. With both players advancing deep into this year’s WNBA Playoffs, her coaching impact extends far beyond college basketball.

The context makes Staley’s position unique. From 2014 until 2018, she mentored Wilson, and from 2019 until 2023, she mentored Boston, giving rise to two generations of Gamecocks’ glory now thriving in the WNBA.

Fans React with Favoritism Accusations

Social media users quickly questioned Staley’s neutral stance, suggesting she has a clear preference between her former stars.

One user said, “We know you prefer A’ja over Aliyah,” pointing to Staley’s previous public support for Wilson’s MVP campaigns.

“We know you have a favorite. LOL,” another user commented, referencing Staley’s history of promoting Wilson as a top WNBA player.

“Tell the truth…this post was not your truth,” one fan noted, questioning the authenticity of Staley’s diplomatic response.

The criticism hit with personal attacks. “You haven’t been to a single AB game in 2 years; stop capping,” another user commented, challenging Staley’s claim of equal support for both players.

The semifinal series added fuel to the fire when Wilson and Boston exchanged comments about officiating, with Wilson claiming Boston said she had a “special whistle.” Boston shot 13 free throws in Game 4 while Wilson attempted only six.

Staley’s tweet, however, shows the difficult spot coaches are in when their former players go against each other at the highest level.

On Tuesday, September 30, the two former Gamecocks and their respective teams will battle in a “win-and-in” Game 5 for a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line. Television coverage will be on ESPN2, with tip-off scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET. The winner will take on the Phoenix Mercury in the Finals, which begin Friday, October 3.