Dawn Staley is sticking by the birds.
The South Carolina women’s basketball coach sported a Michael Vick Eagles’ throwback jersey by Mitchell and Ness during the Gamecocks’ 98-36 win against Kentucky on Monday — and got called out by Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
Staley, who’s a Philadelphia native and a diehard Eagles fan, rocked the Kelly Green jersey before Philadelphia’s 32-9 wild-card loss to the Buccaneers that night in Tampa.
“Hey @dawnstaley coach leave your fandom at Home & not court side!!” Sapp, who spent most of his 13-season career with the Buccaneers, wrote with the hashtag, “Bucs Nation.”
But Staley wouldn’t budge.
“Sure can’t. Go birds for life!” she replied.
Sapp, who won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2003, has yet to respond as of Wednesday.
Staley’s love for Philadelphia is well documented, and she has no shortage of Eagles’ swag.
The former six-time WNBA All-Star previously wore a number of different Eagles’ jerseys while coaching the Gamecocks — including the Randall Cunningham one she rocked during South Carolina’s 88-64 win over LSU last February.
Staley, who trolled the Cowboys after they were blown out by the Packers, is on a texting basis with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, whom she’s close with, according to Greenville News.
Before Philadelphia faced the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 2023, Staley sent Hurts a text that read, “One more,” to which he wrote back, “Let’s go.”
The Chiefs beat the Eagles in the big game, 38-35, which took place in Phoenix.
The Eagles went 1-6 to end the season after a hot 10-1 start, leading to rumors that major changes are coming.
As the Eagles begin their offseason, the Buccaneers are preparing to face the Detroit Lions in the divisional round on Sunday at 3 p.m.