Aliyah Boston is the best player on the best team in women's college basketball. The South Carolina forward just led the Gamecocks to a momentous NCAA title and is poised to be one of the top picks in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
Apparently, that wasn't enough for Boston to get an invite to the ESPYS. Boston wasn't placed on the invite list despite earning a nomination for their "Best College Athlete, Women's Sports" award.
Boston eventually did get an invite to the event, which will be hosted by Finals MVP Stephen Curry on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET). However, she opted to spurn the award show before taking to social media to explain her decision.
Boston, 20, explained that ESPN's blatant disregard for her interests was yet another example of Black women being erased from mainstream society.
I thank God for continuing to bless me, for guiding my steps, and for the love and support of my family, fans and community. I would like to say congratulations @78jocelyn_alo and all the ESPY winners🎉 I remain thankful in all things. pic.twitter.com/BkO2iPA8YS
— Aliyah A. Boston (@aa_boston) July 20, 2022
Boston's coach, Dawn Staley, had her say about ESPN's decision to withhold an invite to the reigning National Player of the Year.
MORE: Dawn Staley's jacket had everyone talking during South Carolina's title-game beatdown of UConn
Like really….who in the room from @espn @ESPYS decided it was a great idea not to invite @MarchMadnessWBB NPOY DPOY….not one person was able to see the uproar this would cause? There’s definitely something wrong with the make up of the room……the fight continue….#WBBSTANDUP
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 17, 2022
In a statement, the network said it opted not to invite Boston because the award she is nominated for — Best College Athlete, Women's Sports — was not going to be broadcast.
“We have the utmost respect for Aliyah Boston, Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks,” ESPN said in a statement. “Due to both COVID restrictions and a new venue with much less seating capacity than previous shows, ‘The 2022 ESPYs’ prioritized athlete invitations to focus on specific awards that will be handed out during the broadcast.”
Nonetheless, ESPN's choice to fail to extend an invitation to Boston baffled many. After all, she was one of the most visible players in ESPN's broadcast of the NCAA tournament this year.
MORE: Aliyah Boston can become even more of a nightmare to guard
Staley pushed the "stakeholders" of the women's game to speak out against Boston's treatment.
And I’m still waiting for the stakeholders of our @MarchMadnessWBB game to comment, post, TikTok….
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 17, 2022
