Sue Bird’s rant about long-standing racism in WNBA highlights the league’s REAL problem



Caitlin Clark, despite being for the most part apolitical, has been a lightning rod for controversy. As the most adored female player to have ever graced the basketball court, Clark’s fanbase is huge — and they’re vocal.

When a rivalry between Clark, who at the time played for the University of Iowa, and LSU’s Angel Reese sparked in 2023, many of Clark’s fans were accused of hurling racial insults at Clark’s competitors.

According to mainstream outlets, Clark’s fans and their racism have followed the athlete into the WNBA, creating a hostile environment for many of the athletes.

Former WNBA player Sue Bird, the partner of radical leftist retired professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe, recently spoke on this subject.

In her podcast “A Touch More,” the former athlete told Rapinoe that “racism has been impacting the WNBA well before this year,” meaning Clark’s fans are merely exacerbating a pre-existing problem.

“I do think Caitlin is being used as a pawn. Caitlin didn’t bring racism to the WNBA,” said Bird, who went on a long rant about how she never could just focus on being a basketball player because she was forced to be a social justice warrior.

“We're still not allowed to be focused on our basketball play,” Bird lamented.

However, where Bird sees social justice issues, Jason Whitlock sees a pathetic cry for attention.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

“You couldn't get any traction based on your basketball, and so you decided, ‘Hey, we got to talk about racism and sexism to draw attention; we have to kneel during the national anthem to draw attention,”’ he says, comparing the WNBA’s social justice activism to “a kid who can’t get attention from their parents.”

And now that Caitlin Clark has entered the chat, people are finally able to focus on basketball because she’s brought the right kind of attention to the league.

“Someone showed up here who plays good enough basketball to draw attention and now people are actually evaluating [women’s] basketball,” says Jason.

According to him, before Clark, the WNBA fandom was lacking because it had “too many women tatted up and looking like men.”

“People don’t want to see that,” he says.

Then, “Caitlin Clark shows up with her ponytail and no tattoos and plays a brand of basketball that's exciting and fun to watch and voila — a crowd shows up,” Jason explains.

To hear more of his analysis, watch the clip above.

Want more from Jason Whitlock?

To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

National Women’s Law Center Sides Against The Female Athletes Suing NCAA For Trans Insanity

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-21-at-12.54.09 PM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-21-at-12.54.09%5Cu202fPM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]The future of NCAA women’s sports is on the line in a lawsuit brought by the athletes at the forefront of the battle to protect females.
Megan Rapinoe's production company announces 'bold' series about lesbian soccer players who play on the US national team

Megan Rapinoe's production company announces 'bold' series about lesbian soccer players who play on the US national team



In what seems rather true to life, lesbian and former United States Women's National Soccer Team player Megan Rapinoe has announced her company will produce a series about lesbians who fall in love while playing on the same women's national soccer team.

Based on the 2023 book "Cleat Cute," Rapinoe and her partner, Sue Bird — former WNBA player — will produce a series through their production company called A Touch More.

According to Good Reads, the source material is based on a female soccer player on the U.S. team who is injured and faces being replaced by a younger player. They become "friends with benefits," and one girl seems to have more romantic feelings than the other.

"As the tension between them grows, will both players realize they care more about their relationship than making the roster?" a synopsis read.

The new adaptation was described by Variety as "a contemporary queer romance that follows a young soccer player as she juggles being the new rookie, her goals of making the national team, and a budding romance with her team captain."

"Having spent most of our lives on teams, we want to celebrate the ways in which relationships, both romantic and platonic, are organically created through sports," Bird and Rapinoe said in a statement. "'Cleat Cute' will not shy away from the messiness, occasional frustration, and undeniable beauty that come with loving the game and the players within it," they added.

yall. YALL. i need everyone to order this book RIGHT NOW. run don\u2019t walk because it has lesbians. it has soccer. this story is for the autistic and ADHD people. it\u2019s fun and charming and chaotic and so SO addictive. i\u2019m obsessed. please do yourself a favour and buy CLEAT CUTE!!!!
— (@)

"Sports is a universal language and breeding ground for world-class storytelling," said Jeff Wachtel, CEO of Future Shack, the independent studio that will create the show.

"As women’s sports captivate audiences around the globe, we're proud to partner with two of the most iconic athletes of our time, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, to bring Meryl Wilsner's delightful world to life in a bold, sexy, and fun ensemble show," Wachtel also said.

A Touch More was launched by the two former athletes in 2022. They describe the company as a "manifestation" of their values.

"As athletes, we know how powerful our platforms are and the impact we can have on the world," they told Variety after the launch. "A Touch More is a manifestation of our values, and our desire to bring to the surface stories of those who shape and move culture forward. We're incredibly excited for some of the projects we have in the works and can't wait to share more about this next chapter."

As well, A Touch More was founded in collaboration with Bird's company Togethxr, which works with pro athletes Alex Morgan (soccer), Chloe Kim (snowboarding), and Simone Manuel (swimming).

The company's about page says it is an "unapologetic platform where representation and equality is the norm ... where culture, activism, lifestyle, and sports converge." The term "badassery" appeared to have been removed from the company description at some point since its 2022 launch.

It of course added that its content will feature a "diverse" and "inclusive" community of "game changers, culture shapers, thought leaders, and barrier breakers."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!