Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Coach Sydney Carter Speaks Out After Trolls Criticize Her Game Day Outfit

Men are having a problem with how women dress in the sports industry, and many people are trying to understand the issue.

The biggest headline surrounding the Texas A&M University women’s basketball team is about a particular coach’s gameday outfit.

On Monday, Sydney Carter, Player Development/Assistant Recruiting Coordinator for the team, posted four images on Twitter showing her game-day say outfit on the sideline with the team. The tweet has now amassed over 75,000 likes; however, some individuals took offense to her attire.

Many women described her outfit as stylish or fashionable and didn’t see the issue with her choice of clothing, while men claimed her choice of clothing to be “wildly inappropriate.” According to some male tweeters, her pants were not the only thing they disliked about Carter’s outfit. They also commented on her hair and heels.

“Those braids are way too long, I’ve been seeing that a lot recently. I just want to know, “Why!” while another tweeted, “I thought that high heels were not allowed on the basketball court? are they making the wooden floor a little better these days?”

Those braids are way too long, I’ve been seeing that a lot recently. I just want to know, “Why!”

— Noella Peterson Sanf (@PetersonSanf) February 9, 2022

A male Facebook user posted a picture of Carter’s outfit and commented, “Sydney Carter, Women’s basketball coach, is her outfit appropriate as a basketball coach?” At the same time, someone quote tweeted his comment and said, “what’s wrong with it???”

What’s wrong with it??? pic.twitter.com/6zGxA8SrQv

— 📸Justin Harris 📸 (@Stayconsistent4) February 9, 2022

The controversy covering her outfit feels sexist and is ultimately outrageous. In the history of Men’s basketball, a coach has never fallen under scrutiny for wearing a particular piece of clothing. If Carter wore the same outfit on the street, men wouldn’t think twice about it. In fact, her outfit would be considered “well dressed.”

Carter was fully covered, wearing a white turtle neck and pink leather pants, so many wonder what the real issue is here.

In a male-dominated sports industry, it seems like women are not allowed to have any sense of style, whether they’re a coach, journalist, commentator, etc. Although such restrictions can be challenging for women in the sports industry, Carter has been getting a lot of support from other women in the sports and entertainment industry.

“I stand with you!! And what you have on doesn’t matter your coaching skills… your talent and the goals you smashing over there. From one black woman to another who get’s bashed all the time. I VOTE FOR THIS LOOK ENTIRELY. get it. Black GROWN WOMEN Magic HUNI,” Entreprenuer Angela Pitts tweeted.

I stand with you!! And what you have on doesn’t matter your coaching skills…your talent and the goals you smashing over there!

From one black woman to another who gets bashed on their clothes all the time. I VOTE FOR THIS LOOK ENTIRELY. get it 🥰

Black GROWN WOMAN Magic HUNI

— Angela Myammee Pitts (@_Myammee_) February 9, 2022

College Basketball Analyst for ESPN, LaChina Robinson tweeted, “Folks already know that if you come for Carter or Colson you will have a problem on your hands. Sydney you are PERFECT. your beautiful braids, your flawless nails, your curves, your fit, you are gorgeous and we love you. Keep being you.”

Former Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach, Bob Starkey, quote tweeted Robinson saying, “And @Sydney_Rene is even more beautiful on the inside.. and amazing woman and one of my heroes.”

And @Sydney_Rene is even more beautiful on the inside…an amazing woman and one of my heroes 💗 https://t.co/5MyxP5oBil

— Bob Starkey (@CoachBobStarkey) February 10, 2022

Friday Coach Carter took to her Instagram to thank her supporters. “Thank you to everyone for your support and kind words over the last few days. Representation matters. As a black woman in coaching, I take pride in showing that people who look like me don’t have to diminish our light to appeal to others, whose opinions never mattered anyway,” she said.

“I will continue to unapologetically be myself, apply pressure, and show that Black women can express our individuality while doing our jobs at a high level.”

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