Aliyah Boston does not care for your sympathy invite, ESPY Awards, no matter how much the nomination meant to her.
For those who don’t know, let me fill you in.
Boston is one of the best college basketball players in the world — man or woman. You can take a quick glance at her long list of accolades and come to that conclusion (two-time AP First-Team All-American, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, John R. Wooden Award winner, etc.).
And as a result of all of her accomplishments as a player, especially this past season as led the South Carolina Gamecocks to a national championship, she earned a nomination for this year’s ESPYs for the “Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports” category. Yet, Boston was not actually invited to Los Angeles for the 2022 event. Nor is the award for that specific category being televised this year.
Weird, right? Especially after Paige Bueckers’ 2021 ESPYs speech where she called for more respect and recognition for black women in sports.
👏 @paigebueckers1 pic.twitter.com/vFoSoczHn6
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) July 11, 2021
Apparently, even a public voicing by Bueckers wasn’t enough for ESPN to change its ways. But some recent public shaming may have done the trick.
Dawn Staley’s calling out of ESPN’s wrongdoings stood out the most.
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
Not long after, Boston received an invite to Los Angeles to attend the ESPYs. A disingenuous invite on the heels of social media outrage. Boston recognized the invitation for what it was and had the perfect response:
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
She said it best, “You matter. You are valuable, You are a priority. You are seen, and you are loved.”
Well done, Aliyah.
