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Women-led hair startup Parfait continues to champion Black women. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, Parfait is reportedly the first to integrate facial recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide buyers with customizable wig products. It previously raised $5 million in April 2022, backed by a funding round led by Upfront Ventures and Serena Ventures. “It’s widely understood that facial recognition systems perform less well for women and people of color,” said Parfait Co-Founder Isoken Igbinedion, a former Target and Amazon executive . “Training models used in facial recognition technology are largely unbalanced, often relying on training datasets that are similar in makeup, and do not represent the visual composition of faces worldwide. This often results in poor performance for users who do not fit into that dataset, often represented by white faces and male features.” She continued, “Parfait seeks to be the first to make major progress in improving product and service...
Dawn Staley has made history yet again. The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach continues to leave an indelible mark on the sport. Known for her trailblazing accomplishments, Staley first made headlines in 2021 when she became the highest-paid Black coach in NCAA women’s basketball, as previously reported by AFROTECH™. Her leadership has propelled the Gamecocks to remarkable success, including appearances in six NCAA Final Fours and securing the school’s first national title in 2017, Reuters reports. Since then, Staley has only strengthened her legacy. In 2024, under her guidance, the team celebrated an undefeated 38-0 season, culminating in their third national championship, according to Sports Illustrated. Notably, all three titles have been achieved during her tenure. A Historic New Contract Staley’s transformative impact on the University of South Carolina’s basketball program has earned her another groundbreaking contract. Per a university press release,...
Dawn Staley knew her worth, which led to her receiving a historic contract. Since joining the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program as the head coach, she has led the team to 10 NCAA Attendance titles, with three appearances leading to national championships (2017, 2022, and 2024) the university’s website mentions. The 2024 win was foreshadowed by an undefeated season, with the team achieving a 38-0 run. This is merely a snapshot of the accolades Staley has secured since becoming the team’s head coach in 2008. “What women’s basketball needs is just someone that is literally a true honest GOAT. [I go so hard for Coach Staley] because no one wants her here,” WNBA player and former South Carolina Gamecocks player A’ja Wilson said, per Andscape. “No one believed she could get to this point and she’s sitting here shining. I think that is why she’s such a trailblazer for women’s basketball.” In 2021, Staley became the highest-paid Black head coach in NCAA Women’s Basketball,...
NiJaree Canady’s new beginnings are also being rewarded. The former Stanford Cardinal softball ace pitcher is heading to Texas Tech’s Red Raiders team next spring, per The Athletic. Canady is the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and has led her team to consecutive appearances in the Women’s College Series in 2023 and 2024, ESPN notes. She upheld a 0.67 ERA (earned run average) with 555 strikeouts in 365⅔ innings during her initial two years with the Stanford Cardinal softball team. Canady took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm her transition to the Texas Tech Red Raiders team. “These past two years have been amazing and I thank @StanfordSball for the ride of a lifetime. Excited for what’s ahead! @TexasTechSB,” she wrote on X. Canady has also cemented a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal. She reportedly signed a one-year deal valued at $1.1 million with Texas Tech’s collective Matador Club, a source familiar with the deal confirmed to The Athletic. “I could...
A’ja Wilson does not take the sacrifices of her parents for granted. Growing up, the Las Vegas Aces player credits her dad for encouraging her to practice shots on the court, she tells ESPN. Her father, Roscoe, would make her wear a weighted vest while she scored layups. The South Carolina-born athlete describes this time period as “the hell part” of their relationship, but it also helped to improve her skills. “Left hand, right hand, left hand, right hand,” Roscoe told ESPN. “I’d tell her to always know where her feet should be, don’t bring her hands down below her shoulders. Now, it’s second nature.” A’ja saw her improvement too. “…The heaven part was that as I grew, I started to see my game change. I realized my dad was just being my coach. As I got older and basketball got more serious, I saw that, ‘This man may know some things, A’ja, so I suggest you listen to him.'” Roscoe’s passion for the game was reflected in his own life. While he never made it to the NBA, the former...
Dawn Staley isn’t just a name in women’s basketball ; it’s a thunderclap. A three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player and current coach of the dominant South Carolina Gamecocks dynasty, Staley’s impact transcends wins and losses. But for the curious minds out there, a question arises: what is Dawn Staley’s net worth? Who Is Dawn Staley? (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) The story of Dawn Staley’s basketball career started as a University of Virginia college phenomenon. She broke records, setting a record for most steals in the NCAA and winning two National Player of the Year titles. Her greatest accomplishment was in the year 1991 when she won the NCAA Final Four as the Most Outstanding Player and guided her team to victory. Staley’s skills transferred to the professional arena with ease. Before moving on to play in the WNBA, she was a trailblazer in the early years of the American Basketball League (ABL). Although her abilities were evident, her influence was not limited....
Dawn Staley’s secret to success lies within the connection to her players. The South Carolina Gamecocks Head Coach was overcome with emotions fresh off the team’s NCAA national women’s basketball championship win against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday, April 7, 2024. This marks Staley’s third women’s national championship, according to CBS News. Reflecting on the University of South Carolina team’s latest victory, Staley expressed during an ESPN interview, “I’m so incredibly happy for our players. It doesn’t always end like you want it to end, much like last year. But my freshies are at the top of my heart because they wanted this, and I hope we can erase whatever pain they had last year not being able to finish it here. So I’m just super proud of where I work. I’m super proud of our fans. It’s awesome.” Dawn Staley, an emotional victory. “We serve an unbelievable God.” 🏆❤️🥹 pic.twitter.com/oNpn5PrW9r — Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) April 7, 2024 The Gamecocks...
Ahead of March Madness, three athletes have secured their own name, image, and likeness deals (NIL). On3 reports audio equipment company Bose has signed three college basketball athletes — University of South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston, Duke University forward Wendell Moore, and Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aliyah A. Boston (@aliyah.boston) To level up their training and help them stay in the zone, the chosen athletes will receive its QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones. Bose’s recent commitment to athletes is an extension of NIL deals launched in December of 2021 pinpointing football college talent including Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown, Ohio State Buckeyes C.J. Stroud, and Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams, Boardroom reports. “As March Madness kicks off later this week, Bose announced today three new exciting NCAA NIL athlete partners. South Carolina Gamecock power forward Aliyah Boston, Gonzaga Bulldog center Chet...
Dawn Staley is officially one of the highest-paid head coaches in NCAA Women’s Basketball, thanks to a seven-year contract totaling $22.4 million to continue her position with The University of South Carolina. Since her tenure at the University dating back 13 seasons, the Hall of Famer has flipped the conversation surrounding the women’s basketball program due to their impressive statistics. They are one of only three programs that were featured in half of the last six NCAA Final Fours (as of this writing) in which they took home the trophy in 2017. Under Staley’s reign, the team was the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament five times and racked up an impressive 25 weeks at the top spot in the Associated Press Poll. And, these accomplishments are merely scratching the surface for how the recent Olympic Champion has transformed The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball program. “Dawn Staley is one of the nation’s top coaches, regardless of the sport,” Ray Tanner, South...