In the late 90s, a high school basketball coach named Ken Carter made national headlines for leading a group of young men, many of whom were raised in the gang-ridden territories of Richmond (California), on a famous run at an undefeated season, only to have their bid for perfection derailed when he suspended play due to lackluster academic performances. The act was commended, and it inspired the making of a biopic starring Samuel L. Jackson (as Ken Carter) called Coach Carter (2005). The motion picture remains a cult classic in the urban realm, but now hoop fans have endeared themselves to a new Coach Carter, and she's become famous for many different reasons. Unlike Ken Carter, Sydney Carter enjoyed a professional basketball career in the WNBA. Upon being drafted by the Chicago Sky in the third round of the 2012 WNBA draft, the former point guard enjoyed a four-year stint in the league. However, her star truly began to rise once she returned to her Alma Mater, Texas A&M as an assistant coach. Two years later, in the Spring of 2021, the head coach at the University of Texas, Vic Schaefer, announced that he had tabbed Sydney as the Texas Longhorns' new Director of Player Development.
Although Syndey's ascension in the coaching profession of college basketball is impressive, her brand on social media has skyrocketed much further, causing many to debate if there was a motive behind her flashy sense of fashion during team games. Sydney is someone who many find attractive, so when she sits courtside during team games, fans often notice her glamorous appearance. Video clips of the 32-year-old in various fashion choices have gone viral, and she's inching closer to one million followers on social media, which is rare for an assistant coach.
Upon posting a video clip of herself coaching her players, fans in the comment section began to argue about her appearance. Many praised Sydney for being a trailblazer in coaching and a commendable role model for young women. In contrast, others accused her of being self-serving and taking attention away from her team.
"I mean, I can understand others infatuated with you, but you appear to be infatuated with yourself???" wrote a somewhat skeptical Twitter user. "Ok...don't mind me please...Love u though coach!!!!"
"This is what they do now. Shroud their infatuation with themselves and need for attention as confidence or inspiration…" wrote another critic.
Others in the comment section came to Sydney's defense.
"Y’all see a Black woman doing her thing and be so horny to discredit, downplay, and knock her crown off. Must be painful to wake up that miserable," a commentator responded. "Please keep doing what you doing and give the haters something to hate while simultaneously not acknowledging them.
"This!!!! These comments are terrible and so mean," another supporter wrote. "Especially on the last day of BHM(when she posted) & beginning of National Women’s Month. Smh"
On the first day of Women's History Month, Dallas Weekly curated a special feature story on Coach Sydney Carter to highlight her great accomplishments thus far in women's basketball. Scroll up to view the aforementioned viral post.
Source: Twitter
