3x national champ Dawn Staley makes bold speech on pay disparity faced by women coaches - “I get paid less but win more”
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley accepted the Jimmy V Award at the 2024 ESPYS Award in Los Angeles on Thursday night. She received the honor for her efforts in promoting equality in women's sports and for her work advocating for cancer research.
Late American sportscaster Stuart Scott's daughters Taelor and Sydni, along with Emmy Award winner Quinta Brunson, presented the award to Staley at Dolby Theater. During her acceptance speech, the three-time national champion coach highlighted the pay gap faced by female coaches.
"[12:38] How do I not fight injustice when I ask them to do the things the right way? How do I not fight for fairness when I ask them not to cheat themselves, not to cut corners? How do I not fight for equity when I tell them they can climb as high as they want? They can be all that they want. How do I not fight pay disparity when I do the same job, and get paid less but win more?" Staley said in her speech.
Dawn Staley signed a seven-year contract extension valued at $22.4 million with South Carolina in October 2021. She is currently second on the list of highest-paid women's college basketball coaches with an annual earning of $3.1 million, tied with UConn's Geno Auriemma. LSU's Kim Mulkey is the highest earner with a salary of $3.26 million per year.
The ESPYS had a special year for women's sports, with A'ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles, and JuJu Watkins all being recognized at the event alongside Staley.
Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks wins the best team award at ESPYS
At the 2024 ESPYS awards, Dawn Staley not only received recognition for her contribution to fighting cancer but also for her impact on the South Carolina Gamecocks as their head coach.
"I must confess I feel a little undeserving of this recognition. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have faced incredible challenges and proven themselves as true warriors. I have merely been a spectator to such immense courage and resilience." Staley said.
Since starting at South Carolina in 2008, Staley has led the team to three NCAA national championships in 2017, 2022, and 2024. The Gamecocks also reached the Final Four six times and secured eight SEC regular season and tournament titles under her leadership. They finished the 2023-24 season undefeated, with a record of 38-0 overall (16-0 SEC).