![South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley answers reporters' questions on April 6 before a national championship game.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Dawn_Staley-ss.jpg)
Coaching Great Dawn Staley Defends Trans Athletes Coaching Great Dawn Staley Defends Trans Athletes
The courageous comments of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ coach upset all the right people.
Apr 10, 2024 / Dave Zirin
![Dartmouth player organizers with an SEIU Local 560 sign](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dartmouthbasketballvote.jpg)
The Future of College Sports Is Unionized The Future of College Sports Is Unionized
The Dartmouth basketball team just voted to join SEIU Local 560, a big step toward ending the exploitation of college athletes.
Mar 7, 2024 / Dave Zirin
![Lia Thomas](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/GettyImages-1239328964.jpg)
How Women’s Swimming Got So Transphobic How Women’s Swimming Got So Transphobic
Almost no other sport is as hostile to trans athletes—and that's because its culture created the perfect conditions for transphobia to take root.
May 12, 2023 / Frankie de la Cretaz
![Caitlin Clark’s Lesson for White Athletes: Don’t Be a MAGA Pawn](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ap-clark.jpg)
Caitlin Clark’s Lesson for White Athletes: Don’t Be a MAGA Pawn Caitlin Clark’s Lesson for White Athletes: Don’t Be a MAGA Pawn
When given the lucrative chance to demonize a rival player, Clark chose a different path.
Apr 7, 2023 / Highlights / Dave Zirin
![Baylor women's basketball head coach Kim Mulkey reacts during a game against Notre Dame at the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Mulkey-hands-on-hips-getty.jpg)
Brittney Griner Gets No Support From Former Coach Kim Mulkey Brittney Griner Gets No Support From Former Coach Kim Mulkey
The championship coach could not offer even a nod of solidarity to her former player languishing in a Russian prison.
Sep 28, 2022 / Dave Zirin
![The Bad Aftertaste of the NCAA Men’s Tournament](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/GettyImages-1389612297.jpg)
The Bad Aftertaste of the NCAA Men’s Tournament The Bad Aftertaste of the NCAA Men’s Tournament
The North Carolina Tar Heels seemed to come apart physically, and the grown-ups just stood around and watched.
Apr 6, 2022 / Dave Zirin
![Chris Mosier presents the Sport for Equality Award during the Beyond Sport Global Awards on July 26, 2017 in New York City.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GettyImages-823341330-1.jpg)
How Sports Have Been Used to Attack Trans People How Sports Have Been Used to Attack Trans People
Chris Mosier, the first openly transgender athlete for Team USA, answers five questions about the struggle for trans lives.
Feb 28, 2022 / Highlights / Dave Zirin
![Billie Jean King](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Billie-Jean-King-ss-img.jpg)
An American Sports Icon’s Legacy of LGBTQ Rights An American Sports Icon’s Legacy of LGBTQ Rights
Billie Jean King’s long history of activism proved that the personal is political.
May 28, 2021 / Robert Lipsyte
![NCAA Basketball Coronavirus](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ncaa-basketball-masks-img.jpg)
Welcome to the Real March Madness Welcome to the Real March Madness
So called amateur athletes are being treated like professionals in every way except getting paid.
Feb 25, 2021 / Dave Zirin
![A New Study Exposes Just How Racist College Sports Have Become](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/quincy-knight-gt.jpg)
A New Study Exposes Just How Racist College Sports Have Become A New Study Exposes Just How Racist College Sports Have Become
Revenue-producing sports like football and basketball are subsidizing the athletic endeavors of the country club set.
Sep 8, 2020 / Dave Zirin