Dawn Staley diving into digital streaming world. Here are the details
Dawn Staley is getting into the podcast business.
The South Carolina women’s basketball coach announced Monday morning on NBC’s “The Today Show” that she is partnering with Just Women’s Sports for a weekly podcast called “Net Life.” The first episode debuts Wednesday.
“If you know anything about Just Women’s Sports, you know they treat women’s sports just like a sport,” Staley said in Monday’s interview. “They want to provide access to me and what is happening around women’s basketball to give the fans access to it. Fans want information and want to be in the know. What we have done here at the University of South Carolina, leading the nation in attendance the last seven years, we give them access to us.
“And what broader way to do that on a national scale.”
Staley has become one of the top voices for women’s basketball in recent years in addition to leading the Gamecocks to be one of the top programs in the nation. South Carolina is ranked No. 1 in the latest Associated Press poll.
Staley also was head coach for Team USA and led them to a gold medal in last summer’s Olympics.
Off the court, Staley helped point out disparities in provisions for the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments when photos and videos made the rounds on social media of the conditions and amenities for women in San Antonio at the 2021 NCAA women’s tournament.
On the podcast, “Dawn sits down with some of the biggest change-makers and disruptors in the world today to engage in unique, thought-provoking conversations,” according to its description on iHeart Radio. One of the issues Staley will tackle is the inequity in women’s pay in the WNBA when compared with other sports.
Many of sport’s top stars go overseas to play to earn extra money when the WNBA season is done.
“There are innovative ways we can raise the salary for women by investing in women,” Staley said Monday. “We all know what you invest in, you will get something positive out of it. Women’s basketball, these days, is in high demand. Now, we have to get the right people in place. ... We are all passionate about our sport and it is moving in the right direction. I don’t think our comparison is with our male counterpart, but what we can do within the sport to help women play year round here.”
Staley’s first guest on Wednesday will be former WNBA great Lisa Leslie. She said her dream guests include President Clinton, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, Reggie Love, and Michael Jordan.
“We’re looking for people who have a voice, who have something to share that’s not your average answer,” Staley said in a release. “I want to get to the depth of people. I want to figure out what makes them go, what makes them blossom, what makes them hurt, what makes them who they are. Leaders, politicians, change-makers.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Dawn Staley diving into digital streaming world. Here are the details."
