Just over a week ago, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley filed a lawsuit against Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk claiming defamation for his comments on Jan. 30 alleging that Staley promoted an “unhealthy” atmosphere at Colonial Life Arena that led to Mizzou players reportedly being spit on and called racial slurs during a game between the two programs on Jan. 28.
Within hours of the suit being filed, the SEC announced it was fining Sterk $25,000 after several weeks of no disciplinary action on either side.
But when it comes to the lawsuit itself and its chances of success, the odds of a quick resolution in Staley’s favor are significant, according to three legal experts.