Dawn Staley Rejects A’ja Wilson’s Advocacy for Patrick Mahomes, Stands Firm on Super Bowl Stance

When it comes to loyalty, Dawn Staley doesn’t waver. Whether it’s her South Carolina squad or her beloved Philadelphia Eagles, Staley is all in. And with Super Bowl LIX around the corner, the Hall of Fame coach isn’t about to entertain any bandwagon behavior—even from a basketball superstar like A’ja Wilson.

It all started when A’ja Wilson was asked about her Super Bowl pick. While the Las Vegas Aces star showed some hesitation, she ultimately closed her answer with the Eagles. “I mean, Jalen Hurts. He’s a clutch kid. He’s a clutch client. So I gotta go with the Eagles only because I feel like that’s just the type of bond that we have, but to see, you know, Patrick Mahomes make history obviously would be great as well,” Wilson shared in an interview.

Although she acknowledged that seeing Patrick Mahomes make history would be exciting, that didn’t sit well with Staley. She wasted no time in shutting down the idea of any divided loyalty.

“There was a wrong answer @_ajawilson22 …..@Eagles @JalenHurts nothing left to be said! Let’s goooo fellas!” she penned on X while reposting Wilson’s interview. At first, she tagged Wilson, making it crystal clear where she stood, but just in case anyone still had doubts, she doubled down by tagging the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

But Wilson isn’t really wrong. Mahomes, at 29, is set to break a series of records in this year’s Super Bowl. First, he’ll be the first player under 30 to participate in five Super Bowls, surpassing previous records held by older players. A win would mark his fourth Super Bowl victory, tying him with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the second-most Super Bowl wins by a starting quarterback.

He would also lead the Chiefs to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Even if you feel these records aren’t enough, Mahomes is also on track to break individual game records. He is expected to challenge Steve Young’s single-game touchdown record of six in a Super Bowl.

Not just that—he could even surpass the passing yards record in a single Super Bowl, currently held by Tom Brady with 505 yards. So, what Wilson said is justified. But, in her own way, Staley isn’t wrong either.

Even with arrangements in place, Dawn Staley won’t be going to the Super Bowl

Staley is a die-hard Philly supporter, and it is no secret! In fact, she’s been rocking Eagles gear all season. From hoodies to visors to sweatpants—you name it, she has it. That’s why, despite her Gamecocks having a major showdown against No. 4 Texas on the same day, she had every intention of making it to the Super Bowl.

That is until an unexpected hurdle threw a wrench in her plans. With President Donald Trump attending the game, security restrictions forced Staley to change her plans.

“And I’m not going to the Super Bowl; Trump is going to be at the Super Bowl, so they closed the airspace,” she told reporters. As she found herself grounded, she took it in stride. “Party here, though,” she added, ensuring the vibes would be just as electric as if she were watching the game live.

For Dawn Staley, this isn’t something new. She’s often seen balancing the act of coaching and catching her Eagles in action. Even last year, when Philly faced the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, she found a way to stay locked in on both. And had it not been for the airspace restrictions, she would’ve pulled off the same magic this time.