South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley received an apology from CBS Sports after one of their radio affiliates aired an “offensive” comment about Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso.
“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,” Staley wrote Thursday on X.
Earlier Thursday, Staley demanded an apology after CBS Sports Minute host JR Jackson described Cardoso as “the giant Brazilian woman that knocks people over.” Jackson made the comment during a March Madness read, per the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Staley called the characterization of Cardoso “offensive” and added that “Kamilla deserves an apology.”
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
What was said about Kamilla Cardoso?
During a March Madness ad aired in Columbia on 107.5 The Game on Thursday, Jackson said, “I’m more excited for the women’s tournament. I’m ready for Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and the giant Brazilian woman that knocks people over.”
His comments alluded to Sunday’s on-court incident with Cardoso, who was ejected for fighting in South Carolina’s SEC tournament title win over LSU. Cardoso had retaliated against LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and pushed Johnson to the ground. As a result of the ejection, Cardoso will miss the first game of the NCAA Tournament, which is scheduled to start Friday, March 22.
CBS Sports, radio host apologize
Jackson promptly issued an apology on social media, writing, “I genuinely regret my words.”
“I sincerely apologize to Kamilla, her family and the University of South Carolina,” Jackson wrote on X. ” She deserved better, I will learn from this and be better going forward.”
The CBS affiliate station that aired the ad in Columbia, 107.5 The Game, also issued an apology. Although the radio station has no control over the content that airs during the CBS Sports Minute, the radio station said “we are ultimately responsible for what plays on our airways.”
“Coach you have every right to be upset. … 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,” 107.5 The Game wrote on X. “We will work to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. We sincerely apologize to you, Kamilla and your entire team.”
Dawn Staley: Apology ‘accepted with love and understanding’
Staley said she accepts the apologies with “love and understanding.” The head coach also confirmed that CBS Sports executives reached out to her directly to apologize, as well.
Following the Gamecocks’ near-brawl with LSU in the SEC championship game, Staley issued an apology of her own for her team’s behavior. Staley told ESPN sideline reporter Brooke Weisbrod, “I just want to apologize to the basketball community. When you’re playing championship games like this and things get heated, (there are) no bad intentions. … I want to apologize for us playing a part in that. That’s not who we are, that’s not what we’re about. I’m happy for the players that were able to finish the game and get us another championship.”
Cardoso also extended her “sincerest apologies” for her actions.
“My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused,” she wrote on X. “I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I am committed to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina’s Dawn Staley accepts apology for Kamilla Cardoso quip
