All Scores

Dawn Staley fights for Brittney Griner, through her words and her wardrobe

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley wears a “Phree BG” shirt in support of Brittney Griner during her team’s game against Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

In her 15-year coaching career at South Carolina, Dawn Staley has won two NCAA championships, reached four Final Fours and taken her place as one of the top coaches in the game.

And last season, as the Gamecocks journeyed to their second title, Staley also became a style icon.

The 52-year old coach’s fashion started conversations throughout the season, especially in contrast with the more traditional outfits coaches wear as they patrol the sidelines. Her wardrobe featured a Burberry hoodie, a black leather jacket and footwear to make any sneakerhead jealous.

She cemented her status during the national championship game as she patrolled the sidelines in a green letterman-style Louis Vuitton jacket and a matching pair of shoes.

Every time South Carolina plays, viewers pay attention to what Staley wears. And in the first two games of the 2022-23 season, the coach used her wardrobe to make a statement.

Both of her outfits centered around Brittney Griner, the Phoenix Mercury star who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Russia since February.

Against Eastern Tennessee State on Nov. 7, Staley sported a sweatshirt with Griner’s face on the front and her jersey number on the back. And when her team took on Maryland on Nov. 11, in a much-anticipated contest televised on ESPN2, Staley wore a shirt that read “Phree BG” in the style of the Phoenix Mercury logo, with Griner’s No. 42 on the front.

In regard to her BG-inspired clothing, Staley told Just Women’s Sports via the team’s communications department that “there is no formal plan to do something every game.” Rather, it’s “all a game-time decision.”

Still, whether it’s through her wardrobe or her words, Staley continues to make statements about Griner in an effort to bring her home.

“I think about her every day,” Staley told reporters after her team’s win over Maryland. “I hope she doesn’t lose hope … We have to be her hope.”

Since Griner was arrested at a Russian airport for carrying a small amount of hashish oil in her bag, Staley has been at the forefront of the movement to keep Griner’s name in conversation.

Staley’s Instagram and Twitter accounts are full of daily photos of her orange “Free BG” pin, the black block letters standing out against the bright background.

She accompanies the photos with the number of days Griner has been detained – 273 as of Thursday – as well as a message of love and support for Griner and the hashtags #FreeBrittneyGriner and #WeAreBG.

Staley told Insider in October that she speaks about Griner so frequently because “BG is an incredible person with a big old heart.”

The two have a personal relationship that makes her detainment even more difficult for Staley to stomach. She coached Griner and Team USA to the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

img
Dawn Staley coached Brittney Griner and Team USA at the Olympics last summer in Tokyo. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

More than that, though, Staley believes in always doing the right thing, a way of living her mother instilled in her long ago.

“I’m my mother’s child,” she told Just Women’s Sports in June. “I grew up in a disciplined household, and I watched my mother be the example of doing the right thing. And the right thing isn’t always popular, but the right thing is the right thing.”

Among the basketball community, Staley’s support of Griner is met with positive reactions, but when she puts those views out into the world – and out onto the internet – there is always some negativity. She doesn’t care.

“We have to give a voice to the voiceless,” she said.

And right now, Griner is voiceless. The 32-year-old is serving a nine-year sentence in a Russian penal colony in the town of Yavas, 310 miles from Moscow.

Within the sphere of women’s basketball Griner has received an outpouring of support. Her teammates and friends in the WNBA continue to push her name forward, through social media, interviews, clothing and photos.

Friend and teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith wore an outfit dedicated to Griner during All-Star weekend, and the court where the game took place featured her initials. The players also came out in the second half of the All-Star game wearing No. 42 jerseys with Griner’s name on the back.

Now, college teams are following the WNBA’s lead.

Baylor, the program Griner led to a national title in 2012, is wearing patches on their jerseys with her initials, the number 42 and a heart to show their love and support for the WNBA star.

Baylor coach Nicki Collen and the Bears program have been vocal in their support of Griner, even as Griner’s former Baylor coach and current LSU coach Kim Mulkey has remained silent.

“BG’s family. She’s Baylor family,” Collen said in September. “To me, anything we can do to help her and her family is important.”

Stanford held a moment of silence for Griner before its opening game of the season, and the Cardinal plan to wear patches for her as well – they’ve been ordered but have yet to arrive.

Activism has long been a part of women’s basketball, as players constantly speak about causes that are important to them, from the Black Lives Matter movement to LBGTQ+ rights, among others. For many of those athletes and coaches, speaking up is second nature.

“We are tireless when it comes to doing things the right way and speaking up for all the right reasons,” Staley said of the women’s basketball community.

And right now, they are tireless in their fight for Griner and her freedom. That fight comes in many forms: through words, through actions, and sometimes through wardrobes. And for Staley, it’s all of the above.

USWNT Announces End-of-Year Friendlies Against Italy

USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey celebrates a goal during a 2025 friendly.
The USWNT will take on Italy in two friendlies to close out the 2025 calendar year. (Jamie Schwaberow/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

The USWNT announced their 2025 season finale on Monday, setting a pair of friendlies against Italy at Orlando's Inter & Co Stadium on November 28th and Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on December 1st.

Facing the now-world No. 2 US for the first time in 15 years, Italy's recent run to the 2025 Euro semifinals shot them to No. 12 in the FIFA rankings.

"As we prepare for World Cup qualifying at the end of 2026, we want to play teams from all parts of the world with different styles and different strengths, so getting to play Italy, one of Europe's up-and-coming teams, will be a great way to end the year," said USWNT head coach Emma Hayes in a statement announcing the friendlies.

After an extended break following a series of early July matchups, the US now has five matches left on the books, with the year-ending Italy matches rounding out three already-announced October friendlies.

The USWNT kicks off next month's lineup with two matches against Euro 2025 participant No. 23 Portugal, followed by a third friendly against No. 33 New Zealand.

As Hayes's year of roster evaluation comes to a close, expect stakes to rise as the 2027 World Cup comes into sharper view.

How to purchase tickets to the final 2025 USWNT friendlies

Though a myriad of presale opportunities are available throughout this week, tickets to both the November 28th match in Orlando and the December 1st friendly in Fort Lauderdale will go on sale to the general public on Friday.

Tickets will drop at 10 AM ET online.

Las Vegas Aces Shoot for 18th Straight Win in WNBA Playoffs Game 2

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson is introduced before Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs.
The Las Vegas Aces can punch their ticket to the 2025 WNBA semifinals with a win over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday. (David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)

The red-hot No. 2 Las Vegas Aces will hit the court in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs again on Tuesday night, facing off against the No. 7 Seattle Storm in Game 2 of the postseason's first round with an eye on scoring their 18th consecutive victory — and a trip to this year's semifinals.

"You guys celebrate this more than we do," MVP frontrunner A'ja Wilson said, brushing off the team's recent dominance. "The streak stopped in the regular season."

"It's the first to nine wins [for the championship], so that's how we want to approach it," Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon echoed, voicing a renewed focus on retaking the WNBA crown.

Following the league's new home-away-home first-round format, Seattle has the chance to extend their season on their home court on Tuesday night, as the Storm arrives back in market with few answers after suffering a 102-77 Game 1 loss.

"Our fans deserve for us to play well," said Seattle forward Nneka Ogwumike. "We have to figure out how to do it, no matter what. That's going to be the test on Tuesday."

How to watch the Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm

No. 7 Seattle will try stay alive against No. 2 Las Vegas at 9:30 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage of Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs airing on ESPN.

Indiana Fever Fight to Extend WNBA Playoffs Run Against Atlanta Dream

Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston argues a call with an official during Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs.
The Indiana Fever face potential elimination from the 2025 WNBA Playoffs when they take on the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

With their backs against the wall, the No. 6 Indiana Fever will face down both the No. 3 Atlanta Dream and potential elimination from the 2025 WNBA Playoffs when they host their first home postseason game in nearly a decade on Tuesday night.

"I think you give yourself an edge as the home team. When they punched us, they punched us hard," Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell said after Sunday's 80-68 loss in Atlanta. "So we have to do the same thing."

"I would like to think that being back at home can kind of give us a sense of comfort, so hopefully we could use it for what it's worth and not take it for granted," she continued.

Mitchell will likely be the key to the Fever's survival, after an onslaught of season-ending injuries forced the three-time WNBA All-Star to step up as a scoring leader — with Mitchell dropping a postseason career-high 27 points in Sunday's Game 1.

"It's a lot of little things," said Indiana head coach Stephanie White following the weekend result. "I like where we are, I'm proud of our group for continuing to fight, and we're going to be better on Tuesday."

How to watch Atlanta vs. Indiana in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs

No. 6 Indiana will tip off against No. 3 Atlanta in Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at 7:30 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage airing on ESPN.

USA Basketball Hires Retired WNBA Star Elena Delle Donne as 3×3 Managing Director

Retired WNBA star Elena Delle Donne poses holding an official 3x3 basketball.
Retired basketball great Elena Delle Donne will become the first-ever 3×3 Women's National Team managing director for USA Basketball. (USA Basketball)

WNBA legend Elena Delle Donne is returning to the court, with USA Basketball announcing on Monday that the two-time league MVP will join the 3×3 Women's National Team as its first-ever managing director.

The 36-year-old officially retired in April 2025 after struggling with injuries, capping a career that spanned winning gold at the 2016 Olympics and the 2018 FIBA World Cup with Team USA as well as two WNBA championships.

"Elena has been a member of the USA Basketball family for almost 15 years," USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said in Monday's press release. "Her wealth of knowledge of the sport of basketball and our organization will be an asset as we continue our journey."

As part of her duties, Delle Donne will be responsible for selecting the USA Basketball 3x3 team's coaching staff and players prior to the 2028 LA Olympics, the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, and other major international competitions.

"USA Basketball was an important part of my on-court career for a decade and a half. To have the opportunity to continue my journey with the organization, and to help shape and grow the 3x3 program, is something that I take very seriously," Delle Donne said. "I'm excited to get started."

Delle Donne's new position is the 3x3 version of fellow WNBA icon Sue Bird's role, as the newly minted Hall of Famer became the managing director of the USA Basketball women's 5x5 arm in May.

"To now think that I'm going to be on the other side of the phone letting someone know that their dream has come true and they've made the team is going to be such a fulfilling, full circle moment for me," Delle Donne said.

Start your morning off right with Just Women’s Sports’ free, 5x-a-week newsletter.