Who is not gay in the wnba

Whether straight or gay, the great thing about the WNAB is that they’re unified in their support of one another – not only in terms of women’s sports, but in gender equity, racial justice, and issues impacting the LGBTQIA+ community as all three hit very close to home. Yes we queer folks love us some WNBA, but just how LGBTQ+ is it? The answer: Very! According to Interbasket, as of , nearly 30% of the league identified as queer, which was down from the 38%.

Currently, there are no out LGBTQ+ players in their team. Here’s a rundown of every team and their queer athletes: Aerial Powers – Joining the team this year, Powers is a lesbian star in the basketball world, she was selected as a USA representative in the World University Games. Here’s a complete list of all out gay players in the league, broken down by team.

what wnba players are straight reddit

For my purposes, “Out” means confirmed by the player either in an interview or on their social media. Which New Gay Players Are in the WNBA This Year? Sadly not Shyanne Sellers, who was drafted to the Valkyries, then waived, then picked up by the Dream, and then waived again. The WNBA has historically been the most forward-thinking sports league in America when it comes to gay rights.

The league has actively courted LGBTQ fans for several years , if anything , has had several star players come out of the closet with little controversy, and generally been ahead of the NBA, its relatively socially progressive parent league , on every related issue. One prominent retired WNBA player says that culture consequently makes it difficult for straight players to thrive.

Candice Wiggins, the No. Our value is diminished. It can be quite hard. Wiggins, a four-time All-American at Stanford, asserts she was targeted for harassment from the time she was drafted by Minnesota because she is heterosexual and a nationally popular figure, of whom many other players were jealous. It was a conformist type of place. There was a whole different set of rules they the other players could apply. I had never been called the B-word so many times in my life than I was in my rookie season.

I was the opposite. What is key to that loyalty and support is our commitment to diversity and inclusion. As a union, we should and we will continue to celebrate the diversity that makes us special and lead by example. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the comments made recently by a former player or whether one has seen or experienced anything like what she has described, anything that impacts an inclusive culture should be taken seriously.

That piece did not feature any explicit reference to the pressure of being straight in a very gay league. Using hyperbole to make a point is not inherently wrong, but doing it to cast a historically marginalized group gay women, many of whom are also black as a bullying force raises concerns. There is clearly more to this story than what has been revealed.

In such circumstances, the best approach is that of San Antonio Stars forward Monique Currie, who tries understand Wiggins even as she disagrees with much of what she has to say:. We are a family made up of players that love and respect the game of basketball. We are dedicated to growing the game and our league through integrity, honesty and hardwork.

I feel awful that Candice had these experiences while playing in the WNBA but I encourage her to not only speak out about the negative aspects of her career but also shed light on how we can prevent this from ever happening again. The WNBA supported you, worked with you, gave you a voice. Why now? Why bring down the league you say you want to be successful? Why not uplift, advocate, and encourage young women to be themselves as you were during your playing days.

Your voice will be much more appreciated and received that way. In a world where we are already so divided I think it is important for people to tell their stories and to share their experiences. I commend Candice Wiggins for telling her story and I look forward to seeing how she uses her experiences to to ensure this never ever happens to anyone again.

If nothing else, this sensational story is an opportunity to learn more. Have a tip? Follow FreemanEric. Report: Ayton to Lakers. Report: Knicks hiring Mike Brown.