Dawn Staley is voicing her support for the NCAA’s new name, image and likeness policy.
The Gamecocks’ head coach stopped by the Tea with A & Phee podcast, telling Wilson and Collier she thinks college basketball has changed.
“It’s gotten younger,” says Staley, “the mentality, the maturity level.”
The South Carolina coach blames social media for the shift, stating that players today are competing for attention online.
“You know a mature person… a mature player, because they stick out.”
Staley says parents are also “more lax,” contributing to a generational change in players’ attitudes.
“It’s not a good or bad thing until you run into trying to help them prioritize their time and manage their time.”
This is where Staley thinks the new name, image and likeness law could benefit the players and the game.
“I like the fact that we have NIL now, because they [the players] have to grow up,” Staley tells Wilson and Collier. Staley adds that student-athletes will have to mature and “be a business.”
The NCAA’s reversal on NIL allows athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness, permitting students to pursue business ventures that use their image for promotion.
“You can’t do the same things that you’ve been doing because [now] you’re a brand.”
Listen to A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier’s full conversation with Dawn Staley on here.