Introduction to the WNBA
The WNBA has been a staple in the world of women’s basketball since its inception in 1996. With a rich history of talented players, the league has grown in popularity over the years. However, despite its growth, there is a noticeable disparity in the representation of Black women in the league. Black Women WNBA Stars Past and Present Cynthia Cooper, A’ja Wilson, and Angel Reese (Photo Credits: Instagram, John Mac, Wikimedia Commons). When you think of the WNBA, what do you envision? Is it the flashy style of play from the likes of Caitlin Clark? Or you could look to past legends like Sue Bird. But what about A’ja Wilson, a two-time MVP, or Tina Charles, who is ranked second all-time in scoring? For a league built by 65% black women, it’s time to ask why they haven’t been the faces we see in traditional sports media and marketing.
The Foundation of the WNBA
Since 1996, the WNBA has thrived primarily due to the contributions of Black women. Players like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, and Cynthia Cooper essentially built the league that we see today. Cooper led the Houston Comets to four straight titles. Leslie was the first woman to dunk in a professional game. However, their names are rarely included in media conversations about the greatest to play in the W. This is mainly due to the media’s choice of who to spotlight, as well as the lack of media coverage.
Media Coverage and Its Impact
Instead, the media has elevated players like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, both of whom are undoubtedly talented but who have often received significantly more coverage, marketing, and endorsement deals. Bird and Taurasi, both white and longtime faces of USA Basketball, were heavily promoted throughout their careers, whether it be through their million-dollar deals with Nike, commercial appearances, or jersey sales. Meanwhile, Cooper’s four titles were mainly celebrated within niche WNBA spaces and have yet to receive the same level of cultural significance within the sport. Despite her success in the league, Cooper never received any major national endorsements.
What Happens When Whiteness Shapes the Story
Coverage decisions have historically centered whiteness as more appealing, simultaneously leaving the excellence of Black women overlooked. That framing is not only unfair but also inaccurate. And it’s part of why so many of the Black women who shaped this league still aren’t household names. “We can’t forget about our Black women athletes,” said veteran journalist Dawn Montgomery, who advocates for more inclusive sports media. “I think the reason why we saw Sue and Diana so much was because the media was intentional in platforming them. If we are more intentional in platforming our players, you’d have no choice but to see and hear them.”
A’ja Wilson: A Prime Example
A’ja Wilson is arguably the best player in the league currently. With three MVPs, a DPOY title, and two championships, she’s checked every box for greatness. However, you wouldn’t know it from the national marketing, where Caitlin Clark received multiple endorsement deals before stepping foot onto a WNBA court, becoming the first athlete since Michael Jordan to have a signature basketball collection with the Wilson Sporting Goods brand. Make no mistake, Clark is a phenomenal talent and extremely valuable to women’s basketball, but it’s worth asking why her arrival generated so much more buzz than Wilson’s dominant career.
It’s Not About Talent—It’s About Who Gets Seen
The Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier (Photo Credit John Mac, Wikimedia Commons). The disparity isn’t just about skill; it’s about visibility and who the media deems marketable. As stated previously, that has often meant white, conventionally feminine and non-threatening, a mold that America does not like to categorize Black women athletes. “The front offices and media people did not look like us. They don’t know how to market us, they don’t know how to speak our language, as we’ve seen, and they don’t understand our culture,” Montgomery said.
Angel Reese: A New Generation
Along with Clark, one of the league’s brightest stars is the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, who embraces her identity regardless of what other media outlets have said about her. “I’m a Black woman, and I’m going to stand in that. I’m going to lead with that. I’m not changing for anybody,” Reese once shared on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” She has quickly become the most-followed WNBA player on Instagram. Reese represents a new generation of Black women athletes who build platforms to highlight themselves. And incidentally, the wave of attention brought by Caitlin Clark has also drawn more attention to players like Reese and Wilson. But if media narratives only uplift Black women as a byproduct of someone else’s spotlight, that’s not progress; that’s proximity.
Shifting the Narrative
The WNBA doesn’t suffer from a lack of talent, stories, or star power. What the league lacks is consistent media commitment to centering the Black women who make the league what it is. This isn’t a new problem, but it’s one we can help fix. As viewers, we should support these women a lot more. “I would like to challenge our Black newspapers to get some of our sports writers to find players or teams in or around your city and write a couple stories about some of the former players and former teams,” Montgomery added. Because Black women have always been more than just background characters of the WNBA, they are the WNBA.
Conclusion
The WNBA has a rich history of talented Black women who have contributed to its growth and success. However, despite their contributions, they have been overlooked and underrepresented in traditional sports media and marketing. It’s time to shift the narrative and give these women the recognition they deserve. By supporting and amplifying the voices of Black women in the WNBA, we can help create a more inclusive and equitable sports landscape.
FAQs
Q: Who are some of the most notable Black women in the WNBA?
A: Some notable Black women in the WNBA include Cynthia Cooper, A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Tina Thompson.
Q: Why have Black women been underrepresented in WNBA media coverage?
A: Black women have been underrepresented in WNBA media coverage due to a lack of media commitment to centering their stories and a historical bias towards promoting white players.
Q: How can we support Black women in the WNBA?
A: We can support Black women in the WNBA by amplifying their voices, attending their games, and advocating for more inclusive media coverage.
Q: What can be done to shift the narrative and give Black women in the WNBA the recognition they deserve?
A: To shift the narrative, we need to challenge the media to be more intentional in platforming Black women athletes, support Black women-led initiatives, and create spaces for their stories to be told.
