Race relations in the WNBA
- Thread starter 18IsTheMan
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I’m sure the resident rationalizer will come along and try to spin that but no; sorry, no dice. I am not a huge WNBA fan, probably be considered not a fan at all mof, but I enjoy watching CC play, and it has nothing to do with the color of her skin for criminey’s sake. I enjoy watching Fulwiley play too. What I do NOT enjoy watching is a court full of dumb, self centered, misguided Beyoncé wannabe thugs focused on being pissed off because all things CC, aided and abetted by ‘officials’ too prissy to enforce the rules of the game and make them play like decent mature human beings. If I run across The Fever I’ll watch for a bit; other than that, hard pass. Most WNBA games I see come off like the fights on carnival cruise lines; it’s disgusting.
The WNBA is strange to me. I'm used to the men's leagues going to great lengths to protect their stars, so it's odd to see the WNBA seemingly willingly offering up Clark as a sacrifice. I don't watch games, but from what I see on social media feeds, it seems she's getting pummeled just about every game. Clark is, hands down, the most popular player in the league (though as I understand it, not the best).
That brings me to the other thing that's strange to me: popularity in the WNBA is not connected to how good of a player you are. I guess Aja in considered the best player, but she's not nearly the most popular. Angel Reese, on the other hand, is wildly popular but not nearly the best player in the league...and from what I can tell, just not a particularly good player. For contrast, she did not finish in the top 10 of the WNBA MVP voting, but she was the choice to be on the cover of the NBA 2K26 video game. The men's choice was SGA, who was the MVP the last 2 seasons. Her popularity is linked more to her fashion.
WNBA is a lot like WWE wrestling. It seems to be all about personalities and manufactured "good" and "bad" guys.
I guess they have to have something to keep interest up. The play is so bad it surely won't keep fans tuned in.
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I'm surprised it made it this long. I firmly believe it is a tax shelter for the rich NBA owners. It is bad basketball, bad attitudes and bad people. I don't understand why people follow it other than the world seems to be fixated on drama, hate, manufactured racism and controversy. WNBA checks all those boxes.
It really hasn't "made it". It is a propped up show that survives on NBA money. It is sort of like saying Lance Stroll has "made it" as a Formula 1 driver. If his daddy ever gets tired of funding the F1 team, Lance will not be a driver.
You misunderstood my context of "made". I'm surprised it lasted, survived, or has continued to exist this long. It certainly has not made it in your context of the word unless making it is becoming the biggest event that showcases all the bad things I mentioned that it showcases. Its an embarrassment to women, basketball, sports and humankind.
My one question to all of you is did any of you watch the game? There is some context in this play. It was a loose ball scrum and Alyssa Thomas did use her fist to brace to get up. However, it was a no call that no one really paid attention to until all the still photos came out. Yes, it looks intentional with the still photo. However, if you look at the video in real time, it was one of those Draymond Green like plays where you are going back and forth to determine whether it was intentional. The one thing I get tired of is that Caitlin's fans won't let her go on her journey and compete. The one thing that made MJ the GOAT is that he had to fight for his success. The Pistons didn't give it to him. They knocked him on his butt until MJ was ready to take it from them. I don't get whether people have a different energy about sports because these are women, but I just don't understand this need to have everything given to Caitlin. Caitlin is an amazing talent. However, her star is dampened to hard-core basketball fans because all of the over dramatic complaints. This is competition. The other players want to win too. There is going to be confrontation. There are going to be situations where tempers flare. There are going to be physical plays with players fighting over the ball (This play). Caitlin is in the Top 10 in FTs in the league even though she really doesn't go to the basket that much. This agenda that Caitlin is being persecuted by Black Girls and the WNBA is getting exhausting. I am sure it is exhausting for the players.
Edit. Thomas just got a one game suspension for this play. You have your pound of flesh. Can everyone be happy now and play ball. I know it is about all kinds of other things to some, but it will be always be about the ball to me when it comes to basketball. Stop trying to turn the game I love into some WWE (Heroes vs. Villains) narrative.
Edit. Thomas just got a one game suspension for this play. You have your pound of flesh. Can everyone be happy now and play ball. I know it is about all kinds of other things to some, but it will be always be about the ball to me when it comes to basketball. Stop trying to turn the game I love into some WWE (Heroes vs. Villains) narrative.
Did refs miss Alyssa Thomas pressing on Caitlin Clark's neck?
Whew, this looks like a really bad miss from the officiating crew during Mercury-Fever.
ftw.usatoday.com
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This. If the NBA ever retracted their charity, the league would fold.
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I don’t know adcoop I’ve seen about 3 yrs worth of hip checks,blindsides,eye pokes,on Clark that I just don’t see on other players.I don’t know if there is a racial angle,a sex orientation angle or just plain ole jealousy but something is happening.
My solution is just don’t care to watch.Terrible unexciting brand of basketball.
i’ll stick to watching Dawn and her team for my allotment of women’s basketball.
My solution is just don’t care to watch.Terrible unexciting brand of basketball.
i’ll stick to watching Dawn and her team for my allotment of women’s basketball.
This just happened to Angel Reese in the last 10 days and there was none of this drama. As I said before, this drama is exhausting. If you are really a Basketball fan, the WNBA is not bad. I used to be like you until about 5 years ago when my sister got on me for being a chauvinist. She told me that I was just being a chauvinist for not giving the WNBA a chance given how I like basketball. She really got on my a** about it. So, I decided to give it a chance and the basketball is quality for the most part. It's really no different than the college version of the sport with the exception that the players are all South Carolina/UConn level players. If you can't get over the 4-5 dunks a game that you see in an NBA or high-level College Basketball game, then it is not for you. However, if you really love and understand the sport, there is no reason for you not to enjoy it. It's competing against Baseball so it's not like there is another sport for me to watch during the summertime. Now, I will scale back my watch time once the NBA Summer League begins, but it is okay.
I saw the video tonight on the news. I understand the 1 game suspension (I think they said 1 game) but it looked like a routine frustration play and I didn't even notice it until they zoomed in with slow motion.
a game suspension makes sense to me but I've seen more flagrant stuff in men's games a million times.
a game suspension makes sense to me but I've seen more flagrant stuff in men's games a million times.
I can only say I've watched about 20 mins of pro basketball in 2026, and 5-7 of it was a WNBA game and some highlights of Wilson.
I think the WNBA product is solid for what it is and there are some fun players to watch if you are a pure basketball fan. But I don't watch much pro basketball at all anyway. But I don't get the hate though from those that post about it a good bit but say they don't care about it. If I don't care about something, I don't even think about posting about it.
There's too large a body of evidence.My one question to all of you is did any of you watch the game? There is some context in this play. It was a loose ball scrum and Alyssa Thomas did use her fist to brace to get up. However, it was a no call that no one really paid attention to until all the still photos came out. Yes, it looks intentional with the still photo. However, if you look at the video in real time, it was one of those Draymond Green like plays where you are going back and forth to determine whether it was intentional. The one thing I get tired of is that Caitlin's fans won't let her go on her journey and compete. The one thing that made MJ the GOAT is that he had to fight for his success. The Pistons didn't give it to him. They knocked him on his butt until MJ was ready to take it from them. I don't get whether people have a different energy about sports because these are women, but I just don't understand this need to have everything given to Caitlin. Caitlin is an amazing talent. However, her star is dampened to hard-core basketball fans because all of the over dramatic complaints. This is competition. The other players want to win too. There is going to be confrontation. There are going to be situations where tempers flare. There are going to be physical plays with players fighting over the ball (This play). Caitlin is in the Top 10 in FTs in the league even though she really doesn't go to the basket that much. This agenda that Caitlin is being persecuted by Black Girls and the WNBA is getting exhausting. I am sure it is exhausting for the players.
Edit. Thomas just got a one game suspension for this play. You have your pound of flesh. Can everyone be happy now and play ball. I know it is about all kind of other things to some, but it will be always be about the ball to me when it comes to basketball. Stop trying to turn the game I love into some WWE (Heroes vs. Villains) narrative.
Did refs miss Alyssa Thomas pressing on Caitlin Clark's neck?
Whew, this looks like a really bad miss from the officiating crew during Mercury-Fever.ftw.usatoday.com
I don't believe its a race thing, or at least not solely a race thing. Paige Bueckers is blonde and also gets a lot of overt attention from the media, fans, etc. But she doesn't get the crap beat out of her every night either. So, in what demographic is she different than Clark?? Hmmm... well Clark has a boyfriend and Bueckers has a girlfriend on her team and a lot of the WNBA women swing that way too, way more than society in general anyway. So, I say its a combo of jealousy first, hetero-phobia second with a splash of racism. Problem solved.
One can admit the level of basketball is low, while still commenting on how they choose to protect or not protect some players.
One can admit the level of basketball is low while still commenting on how the league handles finances. Or the silliness of players demanding to be paid "what they're worth" while the league loses money year after year.
One can not care for watching the game but still comment on how the wnba players tried to play victim when a person asks them a question.
This is a debate thats been had on here many times, if you couldnt tell.
There is a LOT more to discuss about a sports league other than simply the play on the field/court.
No drama and Angel Reese don't ever belong in the same sentence. Don't happen, no way, no how...it is always about her first and drama second. It's her brand.
I watched the game last night and my daughter and I both saw it in real time. It was as thuggish as it looks and was meant to hurt. The WNBA needs Clark more than she needs them. If she walked or got seriously hurt, the league would suffer, more than it already does and she would still have her millions.My one question to all of you is did any of you watch the game? There is some context in this play. It was a loose ball scrum and Alyssa Thomas did use her fist to brace to get up. However, it was a no call that no one really paid attention to until all the still photos came out. Yes, it looks intentional with the still photo. However, if you look at the video in real time, it was one of those Draymond Green like plays where you are going back and forth to determine whether it was intentional. The one thing I get tired of is that Caitlin's fans won't let her go on her journey and compete. The one thing that made MJ the GOAT is that he had to fight for his success. The Pistons didn't give it to him. They knocked him on his butt until MJ was ready to take it from them. I don't get whether people have a different energy about sports because these are women, but I just don't understand this need to have everything given to Caitlin. Caitlin is an amazing talent. However, her star is dampened to hard-core basketball fans because all of the over dramatic complaints. This is competition. The other players want to win too. There is going to be confrontation. There are going to be situations where tempers flare. There are going to be physical plays with players fighting over the ball (This play). Caitlin is in the Top 10 in FTs in the league even though she really doesn't go to the basket that much. This agenda that Caitlin is being persecuted by Black Girls and the WNBA is getting exhausting. I am sure it is exhausting for the players.
Edit. Thomas just got a one game suspension for this play. You have your pound of flesh. Can everyone be happy now and play ball. I know it is about all kind of other things to some, but it will be always be about the ball to me when it comes to basketball. Stop trying to turn the game I love into some WWE (Heroes vs. Villains) narrative.
Did refs miss Alyssa Thomas pressing on Caitlin Clark's neck?
Whew, this looks like a really bad miss from the officiating crew during Mercury-Fever.ftw.usatoday.com
Of what? Kennedy Carter in Year 1. Dijonai Carrington poke in the eye in the playoffs of Year 1. Jacy Sheldon and Marina Mabrey in Year 2 (Both are White by the way. What is their problem?) and this. So, 4 incidents in her 3rd Year. None of which have been really that serious and there is a large body of evidence? Remember who you are talking to here. I actually watch the games. When it comes to the Fever, all of them because of Boston and now Raven being on the team. You are cherry-picking plays to confirm whatever bias you have. That is easy to do if you are not going to watch the games. All you know is the 4 plays I described. What about the thousands of other routine plays where nothing is going on but a basketball game.
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You are right to a point that the WNBA needs Clark more than Clark needs them. However, where is Clark going to go play without these other players. Europe? Isn't the NBA trying to build up the WNBA so our American players don't have to do that anymore. Further, if she goes to Europe, she is probably going to have to deal with Alyssa Thomas and players like that over there too. Players go where the money is. So, if the money dries up in the WNBA, guess where top level players like Alyssa Thomas are going? Right over to Europe with Caitlin. I have said this about Caitlin and physical play since Day 1: Caitlin needs to get into an old fashioned fight with one of the players or at least act like it. You are going to get held back anyway (there are really no real fights in basketball anymore). Go on and act out. One of the quickest ways to show you are not scared and won't back down. Caitlin allowed that too happen and didn't even make a complaint. The game went on like nothing had happened. You saw it.
I laughed when I read this. Then, the more I thought about it, it seemed less and less funny. I wonder if there's more than a kernel of truth there.
If David Stern is still alive, he should sit down with whoever the commissionette of the wnba is and review the idea of player promotion.
You want to foster support when you've got the public interested in a player. Not try to run her out of the league.
I would have said that the wnba cant be picky when it comes to attracting attention. But in reality, we all know they have the NBA mealticket. They could all read a newspaper on the court and they'd still have a job.
So, why weren't you all hot and bothered by this play then. Oh, you don't like Reese. So, no harm no foul? A reckless and unnecessary play is just that and warrants a Flagrant 2. The refs missed the call during the game because it happened so quickly and you needed the baseline angle to really see it. The WNBA got it right. Flagrant 2. Thomas misses the next game. However, the Fever need to buckle down, play some defense (I have never seen a team score 100 points in a 40 minute game and lose this much in my life), and start winning some ball games. 10-8 is not cutting it and they are trending towards another 1st Round Exit against teams like Las Vegas and Minnesota. All this crying is making you seem soft to the opponent instead of winning you ball games.
Caitlin Clark Returns To The Court In New Uniform
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — WNBA star Caitlin Clark returned to the basketball court today sporting a slightly modified team uniform.
babylonbee.com
Just FYI, the Babylon Bee is a satire site.
I don't know if it's race or that she's straight or something else entirely, but it's obvious to everyone with a brain.
Edit: I take that back. I just saw where the WNBA just released some 30 years of the WNBA poster. Who made the poster? Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese. Who didn't? Caitlyn Clark.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
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it sounds someone commenting that much about it doesn't want to admit- or isn't willing to admit- they care about the topic a lot. It might be they hate it for some reason, but they clearly care. They just hate it, hate the idea of it- something clearly they are free to feel and do. But when they proclaim they don't care, it seems a bit strange to me.
I think I see where your misunderstanding is.
Wnba ratings, pay discrepancy with the nba, attacking their own players, these are all quite different topics than being a fan of the wnba.
If you want to call that interest in the wnba, then you have to understand when someone disagrees, and considers those to be different topics.
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Nobody. on here knows if Caitlin is straight. You see pictures of her with a man, but it's like me saying I know A'ja Wilson is straight because you see her with Bam Adebayo. None of us know anything about these girls' bedrooms and it is none of our business.
IndentationsMy one question to all of you is did any of you watch the game? There is some context in this play. It was a loose ball scrum and Alyssa Thomas did use her fist to brace to get up. However, it was a no call that no one really paid attention to until all the still photos came out. Yes, it looks intentional with the still photo. However, if you look at the video in real time, it was one of those Draymond Green like plays where you are going back and forth to determine whether it was intentional. The one thing I get tired of is that Caitlin's fans won't let her go on her journey and compete. The one thing that made MJ the GOAT is that he had to fight for his success. The Pistons didn't give it to him. They knocked him on his butt until MJ was ready to take it from them. I don't get whether people have a different energy about sports because these are women, but I just don't understand this need to have everything given to Caitlin. Caitlin is an amazing talent. However, her star is dampened to hard-core basketball fans because all of the over dramatic complaints. This is competition. The other players want to win too. There is going to be confrontation. There are going to be situations where tempers flare. There are going to be physical plays with players fighting over the ball (This play). Caitlin is in the Top 10 in FTs in the league even though she really doesn't go to the basket that much. This agenda that Caitlin is being persecuted by Black Girls and the WNBA is getting exhausting. I am sure it is exhausting for the players.
Edit. Thomas just got a one game suspension for this play. You have your pound of flesh. Can everyone be happy now and play ball. I know it is about all kind of other things to some, but it will be always be about the ball to me when it comes to basketball. Stop trying to turn the game I love into some WWE (Heroes vs. Villains) narrative.
Did refs miss Alyssa Thomas pressing on Caitlin Clark's neck?
Whew, this looks like a really bad miss from the officiating crew during Mercury-Fever.ftw.usatoday.com
Agree...Clark's fans need to quit being whining cry babies, & Clark needs to "man up" and quit being a drama flop.
This is pro ball and it's not for little girls.
That attempt at justification doesn't hold water as this is not an isolated incident, only one of the most obvious which received some public scrutiny.My one question to all of you is did any of you watch the game? There is some context in this play. It was a loose ball scrum and Alyssa Thomas did use her fist to brace to get up. However, it was a no call that no one really paid attention to until all the still photos came out. Yes, it looks intentional with the still photo. However, if you look at the video in real time, it was one of those Draymond Green like plays where you are going back and forth to determine whether it was intentional. The one thing I get tired of is that Caitlin's fans won't let her go on her journey and compete. The one thing that made MJ the GOAT is that he had to fight for his success. The Pistons didn't give it to him. They knocked him on his butt until MJ was ready to take it from them. I don't get whether people have a different energy about sports because these are women, but I just don't understand this need to have everything given to Caitlin. Caitlin is an amazing talent. However, her star is dampened to hard-core basketball fans because all of the over dramatic complaints. This is competition. The other players want to win too. There is going to be confrontation. There are going to be situations where tempers flare. There are going to be physical plays with players fighting over the ball (This play). Caitlin is in the Top 10 in FTs in the league even though she really doesn't go to the basket that much. This agenda that Caitlin is being persecuted by Black Girls and the WNBA is getting exhausting. I am sure it is exhausting for the players.
Edit. Thomas just got a one game suspension for this play. You have your pound of flesh. Can everyone be happy now and play ball. I know it is about all kind of other things to some, but it will be always be about the ball to me when it comes to basketball. Stop trying to turn the game I love into some WWE (Heroes vs. Villains) narrative.
Did refs miss Alyssa Thomas pressing on Caitlin Clark's neck?
Whew, this looks like a really bad miss from the officiating crew during Mercury-Fever.ftw.usatoday.com
Clark deserves the WNBA version of the ''Larry Bird Treatment''. Respect!
lol, we know PLENTY about a lot of these girls' bedrooms because they make it a point of airing out their choice of sexuality.
But, yes, to your excellent point, straight people don't wave flags and have parades and protests for being straight. They just quietly go about their lives with the mindset that their sexuality isn't a topic of discussion. It's the lezzies who have to inject into every conversation to make sure we never forget.
Agree, the sport is a sideline to the ''Look at Me Fashion Show/Personality Contest''
Totally RACIST bunch!! I am not a WNBA nor a Caitlyn Clark fan, but SHE is the reason they are making so much more money, They hate her because she is White and the Face of the WNBA!! (IMO only)
Omg you’re exhausting. I generally like your WBB perspective, but you swung and missed here. The knives have been out for CC since she stepped onto the court and it is WELL DOCUMENTED. Secondly, why is it in basketball in particular that the hood mentality kicks in with violent hostility towards new players? Somehow you gotta prove your manhood/womanhood constantly just to play the **** ing game, or you are a target—just like a g’d prison ward. Basketball is no doubt a black game now (At least this is what the community tells us) and it has been turned into a gladiatorial sport, which is sad and pathetic. From elementary school to the pros, all you see is violence on the court; throwing down dunks like you just shot someone, crotch in the face humiliation, and then posturing like you committed a murder. No thanks.My one question to all of you is did any of you watch the game? There is some context in this play. It was a loose ball scrum and Alyssa Thomas did use her fist to brace to get up. However, it was a no call that no one really paid attention to until all the still photos came out. Yes, it looks intentional with the still photo. However, if you look at the video in real time, it was one of those Draymond Green like plays where you are going back and forth to determine whether it was intentional. The one thing I get tired of is that Caitlin's fans won't let her go on her journey and compete. The one thing that made MJ the GOAT is that he had to fight for his success. The Pistons didn't give it to him. They knocked him on his butt until MJ was ready to take it from them. I don't get whether people have a different energy about sports because these are women, but I just don't understand this need to have everything given to Caitlin. Caitlin is an amazing talent. However, her star is dampened to hard-core basketball fans because all of the over dramatic complaints. This is competition. The other players want to win too. There is going to be confrontation. There are going to be situations where tempers flare. There are going to be physical plays with players fighting over the ball (This play). Caitlin is in the Top 10 in FTs in the league even though she really doesn't go to the basket that much. This agenda that Caitlin is being persecuted by Black Girls and the WNBA is getting exhausting. I am sure it is exhausting for the players.
Edit. Thomas just got a one game suspension for this play. You have your pound of flesh. Can everyone be happy now and play ball. I know it is about all kind of other things to some, but it will be always be about the ball to me when it comes to basketball. Stop trying to turn the game I love into some WWE (Heroes vs. Villains) narrative.
Did refs miss Alyssa Thomas pressing on Caitlin Clark's neck?
Whew, this looks like a really bad miss from the officiating crew during Mercury-Fever.ftw.usatoday.com
I know. I know. You see that as me attacking Caitlin. No, I am attacking fans that just assume things.
I couldn't care less about the WNBA or women's b-ball in general, but she should walk away from the league.