The WNBA issued a statement condemning racist and discriminatory attacks, and many feel it's coming too late. What the league does next matters immensely.
in attendance, viewership, and interest. Most recently, the WNBA playoffs have been earning some of the highest viewership numbers ever seen in the league's post-season games, perAt a post-conference interview following Sept. 25's first-round playoff game, where the Indiana Fever were defeated by Connecticut Sun, Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas expressed her sentiments about the racism and harassment that she and fellow players experience.
Additionally, earlier this month the WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert came under fire when she was called out for not speaking out about the racism the players have experienced. When asked about the fan rhetoric becoming more racist, connecting it to what Angel Reese had been experiencing in the conversations about the, Engelbert's response referred to it as"a little of that Bird-Magic moment." She noted that"the one thing I know about sports, you need rivalry.
For a game that is experiencing historical growth, the events of this past season have been marred by the racist tropes and stereotypes that have been experienced by the players, and observed by the fans, coaches, and media who cover the WNBA. Considering over 70 percent of WNBA players are Black,reports, it will be important for the league to set a precedent and clear boundaries around what is acceptable fan behavior.
It's also important for players who are not experiencing these attacks to speak up and speak out too, as often one's silence can be mistaken for permissiveness or acceptance. What Reese, Thomas, and other players have experienced is truly shameful and unacceptable. Racist, sexist, and discriminatory attacks have no place in women's basketball, and certainly will not grow or advance the game into the future. But, just as with anything in America, until we confront our ugly past we cannot learn from it, change, and positively shape our future.
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