Dawn Staley calls out ESPN over ESPYS' Aliyah Boston exclusion
There’s one day on the calendar year when there are no professional sports. ESPN takes the opportunity to host the ESPYS, an award show that honors some of the best moments throughout the past sports year. Some top names are going to be in attendance but apparently, the top name in women’s college basketball will now.
Despite being nominated for the “Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports” category, South Carolina Gamecocks star Aliyah Boston was not invited to the ceremony held in Los Angeles. Three others are nominated, with the other big name being Oklahoma softball pitcher Jocelyn Alo.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley took to Twitter, calling out both ESPN and the ESPYS for their Boston exclusion. She said there should be a “national outrage” for the decision, for people in and out of women’s college basketball.
“@espn@ESPYS fix this please,” Staley said. “There should be national outrage from everyone inside and outside of WBB. @aa_boston no invite to the @ESPYS. #WBBSTANDUP“
While Boston may not end up winning the award, Staley is more outraged that her star player is not even going to be in attendance. As the original tweet pointed out, every major award Boston has been nominated for during her dominant 2021-2022 season has gone her way. She also had team success with South Carolina, winning the national championship.
Unless something gets changed, it seems as if Boston will have to watch from home in Columbia. Staley has continued the fight on social media, calling out ESPN again.
“Like really….who in the room from @espn@ESPYS decided it was a great idea not to invite @MarchMadnessWBB NPOY DPOY….not one person was able to see the uproar this would cause? There’s definitely something wrong with the make up of the room……the fight continue….#WBBSTANDUP“
She even sent a message out to the Women’s March Madness, Twitter account, asking them to post something to help their efforts.
Whether or not Boston ends up with an ESPYS invite, it will not change the incredible season she had for the Gamecocks. She averaged a double-double throughout the year, going for 16.8 and 12.5 rebounds per game. Aliyah Boston was also the top player on the other side of the court, winning Defensive Player of the Year.