The head coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team, Dawn Staley, blasted CBS Sports and 107.5 The Game regarding an impolite statement made against South Carolina Gamecocks center, Kamilla Cardoso, during a radio show.
What a morning?!! Never thought I’d hear one of my players described in such an offensive way. I’m not sitting this one out. Kamilla deserves an apology @CBSSports @1075thegame (can be issued even though it’s out of your control)
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) March 14, 2024
The head coach shared, “What a morning?!! Never thought I’d hear one of my players described in such an offensive way. I’m not sitting this one out. Kamilla deserves an apology @CBSSports @1075thegame (can be issued even though it’s out of your control).”
The radio show “JRSportsBriefShow” for CBS Sports Radio was hosted by JR Jackson and during one of the segments he mentioned, “March Madness is upon us, Selection Sunday is only a few days away and we even have teams that have won their conference tournaments and even have automatic bids. But if I’m being honest, I’m more excited for the women’s tournament. I’m ready for Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and the giant Brazilian woman from South Carolina that knocks people over. Forget the guys. Where are the women? I’m ready.”
“The giant Brazilian woman from South Carolina that knocks people over.”
UNACCEPTABLE https://t.co/zm7WoP2ZH4 pic.twitter.com/qWGGmt1wCM
— Natalie Esquire 🇯🇲 (@natfluential) March 14, 2024
Jackson’s remarks came in reference to a brawl that happened during the matchup between South Carolina and LSU during the SEC Tournament. After settling the scuffle, two players from LSU, four players from South Carolina faced ejection from the matchup. The players who left the bench were also ejected from both the sides.
LSU and South Carolina players got into a scuffle in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship. pic.twitter.com/rXw1tb1jWM
— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2024
The ESPN broadcast clarifies its previous comment: Only the players who earned fighting penalties will not be able to play in the first round of the NCAA tournament. So that means Kamilla Cardoso is disqualified from the NCAA tournament opener
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 10, 2024
However, after the comments, both CBS Sports and 107.5 The Game issued their apologies and posted their messages on Platform X, formerly Twitter. 107.5 The Game mentioned, “Coach you have every right to be upset. We as a CBS affiliate do not control what plays in their sports minutes and we certainly don’t condone what was said. We try and treat all women’s sports with the upmost respect. It’s unfortunate some national voices don’t.”
In continuation another tweet mentioned, “Even though it was not one of our voices that said this, we are ultimately responsible for what plays on our airways and we will work to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. We sincerely apologize to you, Kamilla and your entire team.”
Coach you have every right to be upset. We as a CBS affiliate do not control what plays in their sports minutes and we certainly don’t condone what was said. We try and treat all women’s sports with the upmost respect. It’s unfortunate some national voices don’t. (1/2) https://t.co/woNMHibXiR
— 107.5 The Game (@1075thegame) March 14, 2024
(2/2) Even though it was not one of our voices that said this, we are ultimately responsible for what plays on our airways and we will work to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. We sincerely apologize to you, Kamilla and your entire team.
— 107.5 The Game (@1075thegame) March 14, 2024
The head coach further replied, “Thank you @1075thegame for the swift apology both written and on air! This means a great deal to Kamilla and myself as I do tune in daily.”
Thank you @1075thegame for the swift apology both written and on air! This means a great deal to Kamilla and myself as I do tune in daily.
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) March 14, 2024
And thank you @CBSSports execs for personally apologizing….accepted with love and understanding.
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) March 14, 2024
Also mentioning, “And thank you @CBSSports execs for personally apologizing….accepted with love and understanding.”
The host, Jackson who had issued these remarks, also apologized, considering and sharing that he felt contrite about his words. In his post he mentioned, “This morning on an Audacy Sports Minute, as I was sharing my excitement for this year’s Women’s NCAA Tournament and watching some of the game’s brightest stars, I referred to University of South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso by only her height and ethnicity.” I genuinely regret my words, and I sincerely apologize to Kamilla, her family and the University of South Carolina. She deserves better, I will learn from this and be better going forward.”
— JRSportBrief (@JRSportBrief) March 14, 2024
However, regarding the on-court brawl, the head coach, Staley apologized as well, stating via ESPN, “I just want to apologize to the basketball community. When you’re playing in championship games like this in our league, things get heated. No bad intentions. Their emotions got so far ahead of them that sometimes these things happen.”
“I just want to apologize for us being a part in that. Because that’s not who we are and that’s not what we’re about. But I’m happy for the players that were able to finish the game and get us another championship.”
The talented center, Kamilla Cordoso was given the penalty and will miss the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
