Race relations in the WNBA

[adcoop]

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.

Sorry, this is 3 years of hearing the same tiring stuff when it comes to Caitlin. Support is a two way street. If Caitlin's fans want support from the other players, she has to support them as well. There have been too many times where I felt Caitlin could have cooled the temperature and she left her fellow players out to dry. Further, I think fans use this stuff to excuse the struggles of Caitlin's teams. I think a lot of people thought she would just come in and this would be the professional version of Iowa. Many don't understand that these other players are high level players as well and many of them have won championships. Something Caitlin didn't do on the college level.
I have never excused the play by Thomas. My objection is to the racial element being brought into it. You are off on the thought that basketball is a black game especially on the women's side. Many of the top stars in the WNBA are white and they have none of these problems. Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum have all been multi-time All-Stars and Champions. Paige is a top player. Heck, I just watched Marina Mabrey tie the WNBA single game record with 53 points last night and hugging it out with her teammates, many of whom were Black. People see clips of Caitlin Clark on the ground and go in a panic. That's what they do. They don't watch Catlin closely and understand that she talks a lot of trash, pushes off with her off-arm constantly and bullies girls that she thinks she is stronger than. She only flops, curls up and plays the victim when she gets in a situation she doesn't think she can handle. ....and it works on the public every time.

 

[Lurker123]

Indentations

Ha.

You have to forgive some people of advanced years. New fangled things like the internet and typing on a phone are pretty big hurdles.

 

[adcoop]

Ha.

You have to forgive some people of advanced years. New fangled things like the internet and typing on a phone are pretty big hurdles.

You have to forgive youngsters that think a message board is really that serious.

 

[JohnnySolo]

The black girls of the W have made it a racial issue. Not seeing that is ignorant. Remember the face Plum made when Asia said Caitlin was from white privilege. How stupid can you be to a) say that to another white girl and b) think no one is going to know you also came from a privileged family. I don't watch any of it. I'm tired of hearing people talk about it. It is an embarrassment to all things American. Also leaving her off the poster is an extreme slap in the face. Just come out and say we don't like you but we are going to use you to make money and create controversy because in America racism and controversy equals money.

 

[Lurker123]

You have to forgive youngsters that think a message board is really that serious.

I know you thought that was a good retort, retard. Keep trying though.

But you quoted the right poster this time. That's improvement!

 

[kidrobinski]

I know. I know. You see that as me attacking Caitlin. No, I am attacking fans that just assume things.

Nossir, I see you with blinders on, not acknowledging the obvious, and pointing the finger elsewhere.

 

[stu1cocks]

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.

Dude I am not hot and bothered by any of it. Just because I have an opinion contrary to yours doesn't mean I am the least bit emotional. You on the other hand...well... Just passing the no sports part of the year. Chill out and enjoy the ride.

 

[adcoop]

Well, Clark is now effectively serving the same suspension as Thomas with this mysterious back injury again. Clark will not play in her team's next game against the LA Sparks. I know most of you didn't see it. However, Clark pulled herself out of that Phoenix game in the 3rd Quarter. She sat down with her teammates ready to go back in after a timeout. However, she was subbed out of the game for Raven Johnson. You could see Clark was disturbed with the decision and walked to the locker room by herself. No trainer went with her. She would never return. Fifteen minutes later, a report is given on TV that she aggravated her back. Now, there are rumors circulating all over social media that she quit on her team. As my name-calling buddy Lurker says, "you can't make this up".

 

[Lurker123]

As my name-calling buddy Lurker says, "you can't make this up".

Cry harder. It just makes me laugh.

 

[Psycock]

Ad are you serious? She used her fist "to brace to get up." If it wasn`t such a serious matter that would be hilarious. Only the racist Joy Reid or any of the morons on the View could even attempt to rationalize what she did. She should be suspended for the rest of the year or kicked out of the league. A one game suspension is a ****ing joke.

 

[DannyTree1]

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.

A coworker of mine is gay. He's an upper level executive in our company and very professional in all aspects. This man wears a sport coat and button up dress shirt when he goes to the grocery store. He also happens to be a friend. I've been in social situations with him and his partner and I've personally witnessed several instances of people making extremely nasty comments toward him when these individuals spotted him simply holding hands with his partner, someone he has been with since 1990.

I've never really discussed this with him other than the few times I've been on hand when something like this happened, and he told me that it something they've encountered frequently over the years and are used to it.

I could never imagine, in a hundred years, getting used to a stranger insulting me for holding hands with my spouse- or having to get used to it.

 

[Thunderstick]

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.

Thugs gonna thug.

 

[kidrobinski]

Thugs gonna thug.

Well I don’t know, maybe most people nowadays use a clenched fist to help themselves up. Probably in the moment she didn’t realize CC’s throat was down there

 

[gamecock stock]

Clark is a blessing to the WNBA. To those players who can't figure that, as I quoted comedian Ron White on another thread: "You can't fix stupid".

 

[18IsTheMan]

A coworker of mine is gay. He's an upper level executive in our company and very professional in all aspects. This man wears a sport coat and button up dress shirt when he goes to the grocery store. He also happens to be a friend. I've been in social situations with him and his partner and I've personally witnessed several instances of people making extremely nasty comments toward him when these individuals spotted him simply holding hands with his partner, someone he has been with since 1990.

I've never really discussed this with him other than the few times I've been on hand when something like this happened, and he told me that it something they've encountered frequently over the years and are used to it.

I could never imagine, in a hundred years, getting used to a stranger insulting me for holding hands with my spouse- or having to get used to it.

You must have responded to the wrong post. Nothing you said has anything to do with what I said.

 

[Sirgolfalot]

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.

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

If it would have been George Brown

 

[Pinkgimp]

Caitlin and Sophie are white and straight. They hate that.

 

[18Brumaire]

Clark is a blessing to the WNBA. To those players who can't figure that, as I quoted comedian Ron White on another thread: "You can't fix stupid".

You make the mistake of assuming these ladies care more about the wellbeing of their league than they do about getting some clout or attention from roughing up CC.

 

[gamecock stock]

You make the mistake of assuming these ladies care more about the wellbeing of their league than they do about getting some clout or attention from roughing up CC.

And that's why I said: "You can't fix stupid". Has any sizeable fan base given a damn about the WNBA prior to Clark coming into the league? Clark, due to the publicity over her. including the making of commercials, brings more interest in the league with her participation. More interest in the league is healthy for the WNBA. A healthier WNBA benefits the players in the long run. But those ladies are too "stupid" to play the long game.

 

[18IsTheMan]

 

[18IsTheMan]

Clark is obviously being targeted because she is popular, straight and white. Not really any debate about that.

However, she is partly to blame. She tried bending the knee and admitting white privilege, thinking that would get her into the good graces of the people who hate her because she is white. All it did was make her look weak and vulnerable to attack.

She would’ve been far better off to ignore them completely and say nothing at all. If she did have to say something, she could’ve said that she is successful because she shot 1,000 three-pointers a day for the last couple of decades.

 

[DannyTree1]

You must have responded to the wrong post. Nothing you said has anything to do with what I said.

No I responded to your post. What I said did apply to your post.

You wrote

"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."

Would would they need to? No one walks around lobbing insults at people for being straight.

That's why i explained my experience with my friend, and the vulgar insults he has experienced (and I heard myself when I dined with them) simply for holding hands with his spouse of 30+ years.

I wear one of my Gamecock polo shirts to our family reunion every year. The main reason is I like the shirt. It looks good on me, probably my best looking polo. The second reason is, our family reunion is in the upstate and I know a lot of Clemson fans are there and I also know some of them look down their noses at anything Gamecock because I've heard their comments. Well, I have some pride and I am proud that I went to South Carolina and didn't chose Clemson. So, I tend to wear my Gamecock shirt around them. I also tend to mentions things related to USC that I am proud of -the school, campus, fun times I had there- 2 of my children attending.

I tend to think that SOME (not all of course) gay people feel the same way. When you've faced people looking down their noses at you, maybe even family rejection, maybe rejection from some friends, you tend to react to that in a way that shows you have some pride in yourself and your life.

 

[18IsTheMan]

No I responded to your post. What I said did apply to your post.

You wrote

"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."

Would would they need to? No one walks around lobbing insults at people for being straight.

That's why i explained my experience with my friend, and the vulgar insults he has experienced (and I heard myself when I dined with them) simply for holding hands with his spouse of 30+ years.

I wear one of my Gamecock polo shirts to our family reunion every year. The main reason is I like the shirt. It looks good on me, probably my best looking polo. The second reason is, our family reunion is in the upstate and I know a lot of Clemson fans are there and I also know some of them look down their noses at anything Gamecock because I've heard their comments. Well, I have some pride and I am proud that I went to South Carolina and didn't chose Clemson. So, I tend to wear my Gamecock shirt around them. I also tend to mentions things related to USC that I am proud of -the school, campus, fun times I had there- 2 of my children attending.

I tend to think that SOME (not all of course) gay people feel the same way. When you've faced people looking down their noses at you, maybe even family rejection, maybe rejection from some friends, you tend to react to that in a way that shows you have some pride in yourself and your life.

There is no correlation between what I said and your response.

 

[DannyTree1]

There is no correlation between what I said and your response.

I addressed it specifically and posted why some gay people might feel a bit different than you do.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I addressed it specifically and posted why some gay people might feel a bit different than you do.

Your post was about folks criticizing gays.

My post had nothing to do with that.

My post said gays and lesbians are very outspoken about their lifestyle choice and make it a matter of public discussion. Straight people do not go around talking about being straight.

What you said had nothing to do with what I said.

 

[DannyTree1]

"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."

Once again-to directly respond to your post

1) Would would they need to? No one walks around lobbing insults at people for being straight.

2) if you think the sexuality of straight people is never a topic of discussion, you clearly don't hear some of the discussions I do, especially around college aged people.

3) Certainly some gay people ("lezzies" in your words) talk about such issues more than others just like some straight people (mostly men) talk about their sexual conquests with women a lot more than most people would ever want to hear about.

I attempted to explain one reason some of them might talk about such issues more than others.

It doesn't bother me at all to hear about straight people talk about their spouses, partners, who they are dating, seeing reasonable public displays of affection just as it doesn't bother me at all when gay people engage in the same thing.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

“You think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird wanted to concede the reins to Michael Jordan?” Smith said. “I’m comparing her to him as it pertains to her box office appeal for her respective sport. She’s that girl.

“You ride that wave. You want to beat Caitlin Clark? Beat her playing basketball. Don’t beat her with roughhouse tactics. Compromising her ability to play because if she ain’t playing, it’s going to affect ratings, and if it’s affecting ratings, it’s going to affect revenue, and if it’s going to affect revenue, then you’re not going to build the sport the way you hope to build the sport.”

The idea is pretty clear from what Smith and fans suggested. They are angry that the WNBA is missing the opportunity to generate enormous revenue by not protecting Clark enough out there.

https://collegefootballnetwork.com/wnba/stephen-a-smith-makes-honest-caitlin-clark-admission/

 

[Cackmandu]

And now the NBA chimes in.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-starting-lineup-sparks-debate-031139380.html

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

If you watch the replay, it isn't that egregious of an impact to the neck. More like a light thump.
the headlines made it seem like a full throttle punch which it was not.
And Clark flopped from a prone position which could be a first. I get all that has led up to this point of a targeted approach to Clark, but this incident isn't what that photo captures.

 

[18IsTheMan]

And now the NBA chimes in.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-starting-lineup-sparks-debate-031139380.html

I guess they aren't wrong. But, my stars, can you imagine if white commentators openly said something comparable about black players? They would be fired mid-sentence.

 

[adcoop]

The only person that has not really commented about this is Clark herself. One reason I imagine is that she would say that this was not that big a deal and it would infuriate a portion of her fanbase. I actually watch the WNBA. Nothing goes on with Clark physically any more than the other players. The difference is Clark fans lose their minds every time something physical goes on with Clark. The worst thing that could have happened is that Clark's team didn't immediately dominate upon Clark's arrival. Before Clark came into the league, a lot of her supporters were talking about how bad the league was and how she was going to dominate. Well, that didn't happen like some of them expected. Indiana Fever have a 37-33 Record in the 70 Games Caitlin has played. The Fever are 18-15 in the games Clark has missed. Her team is a mid team. So those same people anointing Clark need an excuse. Thus, the angry Black women attack Clark narrative. They are an easy target. Very few, even with Black Men, protect them.

 

[18IsTheMan]

The only person that has not really commented about this is Clark herself. One reason I imagine is that would say that this was not that big a deal and it would infuriate a portion of her fanbase. I actually watch the WNBA. Nothing goes on with Clark physically any more than the other players. The difference is Clark fans lose their minds every time something physical goes on with Clark. The worst thing that could have happened is that Clark's team didn't immediately dominate upon Clark's arrival. Before Clark came into the league, a lot of her supporters were talking about how bad the league was and how she was going to dominate. Well, that didn't happen like some of them expected. Indiana Fever have a 37-33 Record in the 70 Games Caitlin has played. The Fever are 18-15 in the games Clark has missed. Her team is a mid team. So those same people anointing Clark need an excuse. Thus, the angry Black women attack Clark narrative. They are an easy target. Very few, even with Black Men, protect them.

She can't say anything b/c then she'll be a racist on top of everything else.

 

[adcoop]

She can't say anything b/c then she'll be a racist on top of everything else.

Maybe. She, also, may lose fans because she may say that she doesn't buy into the narrative. She can't win unfortunately. Therefore, we have non-WNBA fans doing the talking for the most part and damaging the game Clark participates in. Genius, but most don't care about the sport or even Clark for that matter. They just want to wallow in their perspective corners.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Maybe. She, also, may lose fans because she may say that she doesn't buy into the narrative. She can't win unfortunately. Therefore, we have non-WNBA fans doing the talking for the most part and damaging the game Clark participates in. Genius, but most don't care about the sport or even Clark for that matter. They just want to wallow in their perspective corners.

I think the non-WNBA watchers come at it with the most objective viewpoint since they have no dog in the fight either way.

I don't care about Clark, the WNBA, any player in the WNBA or any team in the WNBA. But I can call a spade a spade.

 

[kidrobinski]

The only person that has not really commented about this is Clark herself. One reason I imagine is that she would say that this was not that big a deal and it would infuriate a portion of her fanbase. I actually watch the WNBA. Nothing goes on with Clark physically any more than the other players. The difference is Clark fans lose their minds every time something physical goes on with Clark. The worst thing that could have happened is that Clark's team didn't immediately dominate upon Clark's arrival. Before Clark came into the league, a lot of her supporters were talking about how bad the league was and how she was going to dominate. Well, that didn't happen like some of them expected. Indiana Fever have a 37-33 Record in the 70 Games Caitlin has played. The Fever are 18-15 in the games Clark has missed. Her team is a mid team. So those same people anointing Clark need an excuse. Thus, the angry Black women attack Clark narrative. They are an easy target. Very few, even with Black Men, protect them.

Friend, we get it; you actually watch the wnba. There are people that actually watch soccer as well.

No one anointed CC. I and others enjoy her style of play. As I’ve posted before, I enjoy Fulwiley’s style of play too. I do NOT watch the rest of the wnba; boring, and pointless imo. They do indeed come off as the ‘easy target’ you describe, because it appears that is what they are. They are their own worst enemies in several different ways, and can’t seem to pick up on that.

I don’t really sweat the Fever’s record; I just like entertainment.

 

[adcoop]

I think the non-WNBA watchers come at it with the most objective viewpoint since they have no dog in the fight either way.

I don't care about Clark, the WNBA, any player in the WNBA or any team in the WNBA. But I can call a spade a spade.

You can't because you don't watch the games. You watch clips. So whatever you see has no context. Bet you didn't know that the two parties involved had an exchange in a previous game two days earlier. They got tangled up. Both exchanged some words. Clark actually pushed Thomas in the back. Both went without penalty and the game continued. In that same game, Clark got into it with Thomas' wife DeWanna Bonner. Ended with a pointing exchange between Sophie Cunningham and Bonner. A lot of fans thought that was so great because they saw it as Cunningham coming to Clark's defense. However, this was a simmering situation that the refs needed to get a handle of. Usually, the teams get through the game and the teams go on to the next city. However, they played again two days later. This is something the NBA and WNBA are experimenting to save travel time and money. However, they may need to revisit after all of this. In the second game, Clark and Thomas both dive to the floor. Thomas uses her fist to get up. I admit. Most people don't brace to get up like that. Further, I think she put a little extra on it to send a message, but messages like this get sent in NBA and WNBA games all the time. I don't think there was any intention by Thomas to injure at all and it was so quick the refs didn't see it. Clark made a brief complaint with her palms up, but that is a gesture Clark makes 8-10 times a game. She complains on every call or non-call. So, the refs thought nothing of it.

 

[adcoop]

Friend, we get it; you actually watch the wnba. There are people that actually watch soccer as well.

No one anointed CC. I and others enjoy her style of play. As I’ve posted before, I enjoy Fulwiley’s style of play too. I do NOT watch the rest of the wnba; boring, and pointless imo. They do indeed come off as the ‘easy target’ you describe, because it appears that is what they are. They are their own worst enemies in several different ways, and can’t seem to pick up on that.

I don’t really sweat the Fever’s record; I just like entertainment.

My point is you guys are doing a lot of talking and really don't know what you are talking about.

 

[18IsTheMan]

You can't because you don't watch the games. You watch clips. So whatever you see has no context. Bet, you didn't know that the two parties involved had an exchange in a previous game two days earlier. They got tangled up. Both exchanged some words. Clark actually pushed Thomas in the back. Both went without penalty and the game continued. In that same game, Clark got into it with Thomas' wife DeWanna Bonner. Ended with a pointing exchange between Sophie Cunningham and Bonner. A lot of fans thought that was so great because they saw it as Cunningham coming to Clark's defense. However, this was a simmering situation that the refs needed to get a handle of. Usually, the teams get through the game and the teams go on to the next city. However, they played again two days later. This is something the NBA and WNBA are experimenting to save travel time and money. However, they may need to revisit after all of this. In the second game, Clark and Thomas both dive to the floor. Thomas uses her fist to get up. I admit. Most people don't brace to get up like that. Further, I think she put a little extra on it to send a message, but messages like this get sent in NBA and WNBA games all the time. I don't think there was any intention by Thomas to injure at all and it was so quick the refs didn't see it. Clark made a brief complaint with her palms up, but that is gesture Clark has 8-10 games. She complains on every call. So, the refs thought nothing of it.

It's possible to have context without watching the games. If you took that to the extreme, you'd have to say you need to watch every second of every game all season to have context.

 

[Lurker123]

She can't say anything b/c then she'll be a racist on top of everything else.

And as an added bonus, so long as she doesn't say anything, we get to make up what we think she would say, and fit it to our narrative.

 

[18IsTheMan]

And as an added bonus, so long as she doesn't say anything, we get to make up what we think she would say, and fit it to our narrative.

ha, basically!

Jemele Hill said of Clark in 2024: "We would all be very naive if we didn't say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity,"

So, we can say Clark's race and sexuality play a significant role in making her popular but if you suggest her race and sexuality play a factor in how she's treated in the league by other players, well then you're a nut job.

We all know that only white athletes have been popular. Jordan, Lebron, Mahomes, Tiger, Steph, Serena, Kobe, Shohei (unless anyone non-black is considered white...which is usually the case).