The Great White Hope of Women’s Basketball
How mainstream media and crazed “fans” created the “Great White Hope” and hinder the progress of the WNBA
The WNBA has taken 2 steps forward and 1 step back. But it’s not the players fault. It’s everyone else’s (and perhaps the organization’s fault for not protecting players and addressing their needs, but that’s a conversation for later).
The W is growing bigger and (hopefully) better for all the players. Expansion teams are on the horizion (YAY TORONTO), an increase in sold out games, A’ja is getting a shoe deal, Ellie the Elephant is the best mascot in mascot history, the 2024 rookie class is performing great, interest is growing and new fans are tuning in…wait, the last point irks me a bit. Over the past few weeks, I’ve wished that we could go back to when some people were not watching women’s basketball at all (misogynyst men, misogynyst women, men with no sense, men with no shame, people who lack the willingness to learn, Stephen A. Smith…). It’s all because of one thing.
The public created a narrative, a lie, a monster: Once Upon A Time there was a precious white girl who was fighting against the big bad Black villains of basketball, Black women. And any criticism against her or discussion that didn’t praise her was jealousy and hate.
Caitlin Clark isn’t on the Olympic team! They’re going to lose viewership and revenue! A travesty!
Caitlin Clark gave those girls charter flights, increased wages, and relevancy. She saved the league.
Chapter 1: CC Comes to Town
The story begins in the magical kingdom of *checks notes* Indiana. Fresh of a #1 pick at the WNBA draft, the discourse surrounding Caitlin Clark (CC) has been hot and fresh since #22 became a Gaurd for the Indiana Fever. Though some (me) may argue that it actually started April 2, 2023 when the villainous Angel Reese and the LSU Tigers beat Iowa at the NCAA Women’s Championship game. Since then, nobody has been able to compliment or praise CC without bringing other players down, past and present.
Fantastic news of the growth of women’s basketball was brewing like a cauldron. The villagers were buzzing with excitment. But something else was also buzzing…a virus called the Caitlin Clark Effect. It didn’t seem harmful at first glance, but those who got infected became very weird. A very thin line between fans who are excited to watch games and support the W, and fans who only care about CC, was forming.
The villagers and I find it interesting that people only mention how much CC has generated interest, and attention, and numbers…but not much about her skills. After all, she is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA college basketball history, no doubt that she is talented and drains threes like a stone-cold killer. Unfortunately, the virus created an idea that she is the only person keeping the lights on at the WNBA, which is utter nonsense. Growing the game is not about one person.
X (formerly known as Twitter): @MayaJujit
But guess what, college days are over. She’s a 22-year old rookie playing in a grown women’s league. She’s going to get huffed and puffed, and blown down. Just like every other rookie has. If CC is truly the best women’s basketball player, why are people asking players to go easy on her? I’m sure the best can accept any challenge and slay any dragon.
Let’s make one thing clear, there is no Caitlin Clark without Maya Moore. There is no Caitlin Clark without the countless players, mostly Black women, that came before her. This chapter closes with a line from Jimmy Myers’s article about The Great White Hope Syndrome:
The play of the WNBA’s Black women players contributes mightily to your success.
Bars.
Chapter 2: Damsel in Distress
Those who became crazed CC fans, including the media, created a narrative that CC is being discriminated and bullied for being white, pretty, and famous. All the WNBA players like college foe Angel Reese, Dijonai Carrington, Diana Taurasi, and Chennedy Carter are jealous of her. They wish to be her while simultaneously wanting to beat her up on the court. But what those fans didn’t know is that CC chooses not to be on social media a lot (some people clearly didn’t watch Full Court Press), and therefore, doesn’t see the comments. She has never said that she feels bullied or confirmed any stupid tweet CC warriors made.
From all the far away lands, I notice the large amount of men, especially Black men, who are so quick to coddle her. Yet, they are silent about the harassment and online abuse of Angel Reese — Royal Highness of the Chicago Sky, and Aliyah Boston — Royal Highness of the Indiana Fever.
And yes, reader, she has white privilege. You don’t feel bad for her because she’s struggling to adapt into the league. You feel bad because she’s white and all the teams that are beating the Fever are predominantly Black. The players that are snatching the ball away from her are Black. You’re angry because Angel Reese confidently John Cena’d in CC’s face and won a national championship. You’re mad because the CC Effect virus makes you view her as a business and not a person, and if the business fails, the entire momentum of the W fails too. These women are her competitors, not her enemies. Angel Reese has made it clear as crystals that she and CC do not hate eachother.
2.1 The Perception of Black Women vs. White Women in Media
Other white players like Cameron Brink — Royal Highness of the LA Sparks and even UConn player Paige Bueckers — soon to be Royal Highness of the Golden State Valkyries (yes, I am delusional), have talked about their privilege as white women playing in a predominantly Black league. Even former NBA player Jerry West was uncomfortable with the fact that he’s the NBA logo and not one of the many talented Black players.
CC might not be scrolling on social media feeds too often, but I’m sure someone else close to her is. Brothers, best friends, her boyfriend, agent, manager… Because the silence is very loud. Bring up the SNL bit and make it seem like she truly cares — which hopefully she does — but that doesn’t address the current discourse that has been raging since the beginning of the season. C for complicity, because the silence does all the talking. She may not have instigated the hate or the CC warrior clan, but all the idiotic takes from jesters such as Austin Rivers, Charles Barkley, and others, are all stated because they “love her”.
Chapter 3: Social Media is a Town Crier
Sports pages that rarely posted about women’s sports before CC’s popularity usually only post about CC for engagement, even if it means leaving space for racist, sexist, perverted, and homophobic comments. Town criers who proudly announced, “I don’t watch women’s ball. It sucks. They don’t dunk. Boring!”, are now all of a sudden experts in women’s basketball.
The Town criers and jesters say that CC’s teammates and other W players should be grateful that her fame makes them relevant. But at the same time, whenever a sports page posts about anyone but CC, they don’t know who the player is. So which one is it? Is everyone but CC an unknown or is CC making them known? Let’s stop acting like her goal is to help the WNBA make more money and sell ticketd. She just wants to ball and inspire young kids, just like Queen of the WNBA kingdom Maya Moore inspired her.
Chapter 4: A Star Is Born
Anyone from any kingdom has star power. Star power doesn’t equal popularity.
Star Power: ability to perform on a level above most
I’ve heard villagers say that Queen of WNBA Kingdom Maya Moore didn’t have start quality like CC does. These are the lies that got Pinocchio a breadstick nose. For the miseducated, Maya Moore has had star power since college. She’s retired and still has it. She just wasn’t as popular as CC due to the fact that you just were not tuning in. I didn’t have the honor of watching Queen of WNBA kingdom II Candace Parker perform at Tennessee, but after watching her documentary, Unapologetic, let it be known that Candace P was and still is a star. CC might have millions of followers, plus the advantages of NIL during her college career, and in her own right she is a star. But don’t come around these ponds and castles disrespecting our stars and legends — G.O.A.T.’s if you will: Sheryl Swoopes, A’ja Wilson, Dawn Staley, Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Also, marketability plays a huge role on who is viewed as someone with star power. White privilege, remember? Some people can’t see Black bodies as marketable. Especially the more masculine or queer players. Look at who was getting the shoe deals, fashion partnerships, front covers of magazines, commercials. It’s only until recently that we see more Black players getting these mainstream oppurtunites that were due a LONG time ago.
4.1 R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find Out it Means Nothing
But the disrespect dosen’t end there. Reporters asking weird questions and making gross comments — a recent case involving Gregg Doyel and CC. Players being sexualized in media articles and by “fans”. A Google Image search of WNBA players and these are thepopular searches that appear. Swimsuits…feet… Call me crazy, but those searches are ODD.
Whenever the conversation about pay comes up, people ask if archers or table tennis players should also get paid millions. *Sigh* WNBA players don’t want Stephen Curry payday. They want an equal percentage of the WNBA’s shared revenue. Wages that will properly support them and their families so they don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to make more money. Also, every sport is loved all around the world. It’s rude to reduce athletes who compete in those sports to hypotheticals that basically send a message that becuase they’re not as popular as the NBA, they don’t deserve to make good money. Anyone getting paid millions of dollars is already egregious enough. There’s someone working a 9–5 barely making enough to eat food and pay bills, meanwhile a guy is making millions keeping the bench warm for the Detroit Pistons.
Also, you can’t hate Black people and/or the LGBTQ+ community and watch women’s basketball. Over 60%1 of the league were Black players in 2023, and 20%2 are LGBTQ and publicly out.
In all of this, Black women are the most disrespected. Players, coaches, journalists, fans. On national television, online, from so called “pundits” to NBA stars. Being disrespected publicly means that everyone from all villages and kingdoms must support and defend them publicly. Monica McNutt. Chiney Ogwunmike. Andraya Carter. Brittany Griner. Fans like me.
So from now on, if you’re going to engage in the W, make sure to remove your prejudice and hatred. Shut up, and listen to those who have spent years building and nurturing the W, and embrace women’s basketball with respect and solidarity.
The End.
Now, go watch the 30 for 30 documentary Dream On.
