Dawn Staley calls out WNBA reporter over Kate Martin post

Key Points:

• Former Iowa star Kate Martin was the final roster cut from the Golden State Valkyries ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, losing a spot to UConn’s Kaitlyn Chen and South Carolina’s Laeticia Amihere.
• A tweet by CBS Bay Area reporter Matt Lively detailing the difficult roster decision drew criticism from South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, who condemned the mention of her former player Amihere in the context of Martin’s cut.
• Staley called Lively’s coverage “not cool” and urged for unbiased reporting, but her comments sparked backlash on social media accusing her of overreacting and attempting to influence the narrative.
• Critics noted the irony that Staley herself has publicly discussed roster moves involving her former players, such as Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, similar to the reporting she criticized.
• The incident highlights ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding media coverage of WNBA players and the sensitivities involved in discussing player roster decisions.