The Tennessee State head coach Kim Rosamond did not hold back, openly challenging South Carolina’s head coach Dawn Staley and the NCAA, claiming she was “cheated” by the officials. Rosamond’s frustrations stemmed from her team’s recent loss in the NCAA Women’s Tournament, where controversial calls appeared to favor Staley’s Gamecocks.
“The integrity of the game is at stake,” Rosamond stated. “I’m not just talking about one call—I’m talking about an entire pattern that continues to favor powerhouse programs while leaving teams like ours fighting an uphill battle before the game even tips off.”
Rosamond’s remarks come after a heated contest that saw multiple questionable fouls called against her team while South Carolina seemingly avoided the same scrutiny. The disparity in free throws and foul calls left fans and analysts debating whether MTSU was treated unfairly.
Staley, whose Gamecocks are among the top programs in the country, has been a vocal advocate for fairness in women’s basketball. However, Rosamond’s statement suggested that teams like hers don’t receive the same level of respect on the court.
“Dawn Staley is a great coach, but even she has to acknowledge that this system isn’t fair,” Rosamond continued. “We earned our spot in this tournament. We deserved better.”
As controversy swirls, the NCAA has yet to respond to Rosamond’s accusations. Meanwhile, her bold words have sparked widespread discussion about officiating bias in college basketball and whether smaller programs truly have a fair shot against the nation’s elite.
