Dawn Staley Calls Out NIL Changes: ‘I Don’t Even Know if It’s Fair’
Dawn Staley had stern words about recent changes to the NIL after the South Carolina Gamecocks’ big NCAA Tournament win against Duke. After the Gamecocks came out on top 54-50, the head coach of the defending national champions calmly but clearly called out recent NIL changes, admitting that she wasn’t sure if her players’ NIL pay was fair compared to others.
A reporter asked Staley near the end of the postgame press conference how she adjusts to the changes in the transfer portal and NIL. The reporter wanted to know how Staley is adapting so her team still makes it to the Final Four in the changing climate.
“We’ve done it with great communication, we’ve done it with great parents, we’ve done it with a roster full of players that you get real talk to,” Staley said. “I don’t think we’re paying the most in the NIL space. But I don’t even know if it’s fair, to be quite honest. It’s what it is.”
She went on to say that if they can’t pivot in a changing NIL climate, they might as well retire.
“I just think that the state of our game is forever changing,” she said. “And although with the revenue sharing coming up, it’s supposed to streamline things. But we’re right in the middle of change. And we have to be able to pivot and deal with it and communicate what needs to happen or we’re gonna have to retire and go into a different profession.”
If making money is a top priority, she hinted that South Carolina might not be the best choice for a player. If they want to win with South Carolina, it might cost them some money in terms of NIL payouts.
“You either have it or you don’t in the NIL space, and then you just have to communicate that to agents, to parents and give them a choice…” she said. “You got non-negotiables, you got priorities. What are your priorities? Is it NIL? If it’s NIL, I’m quick to say, ‘Go get the money. Put it away.’ … If you want something different, a different experience, then we’ve been the five straight final fours. We know what that looks like and feels like and sounds like and what goes into that. We’re gonna give you a different experience, you know, that’s gonna cost you a few dollars.”
You can watch her full response below at the end of the press conference.
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