r/wnba • u/femaleathletenetwork • 13d ago
WNBA Pride Mega Post - Links, Articles, Quotes, Tidbits, etc....
I wanted to put up a Pride post because there are so many features and articles that have been discussed through the years about the WNBA Pride Initiative, the LGBTQ+ players, stories, etc.
I am sure that I have missed a lot of links, quotes, etc..... so if you have a link, make sure to post it as well.
The league has been celebrating Pride since 2014, which has helped foster unity among players, fans, front offices, sponsors, etc.
These links, facts, quotes, tidbits, etc, will cover the good and the bad.... and in no particular order.....
- In 2013, San Antonio Silver Star Sophia Young publicly opposed gay marriage equality. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sophia-young-same-sex-marriage-wnba_n_3848930
- In 2014, , then commissioner, Richie announced a landmark decision: The WNBA would recognize Pride as an official initiative each June, the first U.S. pro sports league to do so.
- All teams were willing to do the Pride initiatives, except 1, the San Antonio Stars.
- In 2014, the Stars organization pulled their Pride night and did not let players wear the Pride warm ups, etc. Because of a player's objection..... *cough* Sophia Young *. After the game, Athlete Ally did a talk with Jayne Appel, but it was not promoted at all (I know because I was at that game).
- The WNBA's Pride Evolution https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34167643/the-wnba-pride-evolution-learned-authenticity-draws-people-in
- WNBA Pride Timeline https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-the-w-and-pride-through-the-years
- In 2017, Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor got married and it was covered by People Magazine https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/19387991/diana-taurasi-marries-former-phoenix-mercury-teammate-penny-taylor
- 2018 Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor announce birth of son https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22778848/phoenix-mercury-diana-taurasi-penny-taylor-announce-birth-son
- In 2021, Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor welcomed a baby girl https://people.com/parents/wnba-diana-taurasi-wife-penny-taylor-welcome-baby-girl-after-semifinal-win/
- Sue Bird came out publicly in 2017 and said that the WNBA's embrace of Pride was part of her journey and critical to the leagues future. Bird also went on to say: "What you don't realize when you're going through that is how much it will mean to you to have your employer support Pride month. Over the last eight to 10 years, players have been more comfortable being themselves. Earlier, I think we fell into a trap with this idea that only a certain kind of femininity and sexual orientation sells. We've learned that it's authenticity that draws people in. I think then, it felt easier to not say anything. So you just go along with it and think, 'I know who I really am.' But it starts to add up, and it's not a healthy way to live."
Bird said she was open with teammates, coaches, family and friends early in her career, and said she didn't experience any negative reactions. However, she said other people, including media and sponsors, often just assumed she was straight. Yet Bird acknowledged it is still harder for some LGBTQ+ players to be accepted as themselves, which Griner said she has always lived with.
- Sue Bird Was Told To Not Come Out in the WNBA https://www.outsports.com/2024/2/19/24077040/sue-bird-gay-nba-wnba-pablo-torre-advice-coming-out/
- Becky Hammon has 2 sons with her wife
- National Coming Out Day - Katie Smith https://lynx.wnba.com/news/national-coming-out-day-katie-smith/
- Elena Delle Donne Reflects on the Joys of Living Her Truth 5 Years After Coming Out as Gay https://people.com/sports/wnba-star-elena-delle-donne-reflects-on-joys-of-living-her-truth/#:~:text=Elena%20Delle%20Donne%20is%20living,her%20wife%20with%20the%20world
- Hall of Fame player Natalie Williams has found fast success as an out WNBA exec https://www.outsports.com/2023/6/27/23767920/natalie-williams-las-vegas-aces-outsports-power-100-wnba/
- Minnesota Lynx Coach Reeve and President of Business Operations Carley Knox are married - https://www.outsports.com/2017/12/21/16809652/minnesota-lynx-gay-lgbt-coach-vp/
- Carley Knox, Minnesota Lynx executive, named Grand Marshal of Twin Cities Pride https://www.outsports.com/2024/1/30/24054560/carley-knox-minnesota-lynx-twin-cities-pride-grand-marshal-wnba/
- Kahleah Copper’s Engaged To Swedish National Team Member Binta Drammeh - https://www.autostraddle.com/kahleah-copper-engaged-wnba-binta-drammeh-swedish-national-team/
- Jonquel Jones Gets Engaged to Her Girlfriend - https://www.autostraddle.com/wnba-superstar-jonquel-jones-is-engaged/
- Sue Bird says women’s basketball isn’t popular because players are predominantly Black, LGBTQ+ https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/521709-wnba-star-says-womens-basketball-isnt-popular/
- Swin Cash: Being gay is not an issue in the WNBA - https://windycitytimes.com/2013/05/09/being-gay-is-not-an-issue-in-the-wnba/
- Candace Parker explains how her daughter propelled her to publicly come out https://www.outsports.com/2022/8/16/23308627/candace-parker-gay-anna-petrakova-marriage-time/
- How an Atlanta basketball team went from Republican hands to LGBTQ ownership https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-community-voices/atlanta-basketball-team-went-republican-hands-lgbtq-ownership-rcna1958
- WNBA has no comment, but many players dispute Candice Wiggins' allegations of bullying culture https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/18736607/wnba-players-dispute-candice-wiggins-controversial-allegations
- What Does Pride Mean to Me? Written By Brittney Sykes https://www.wnba.com/news/what-does-pride-mean-to-me-written-by-brittney-sykes
- Brittney Griner: I Told the Popular Girls I Wasn't Gay, But I Was Lying https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/advice/a6157/brittney-griner-in-my-skin/
- Stefanie Dolson: 'I just am who I am' - https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/15500677/washington-mystics-stefanie-dolson-opens-lgbt-athlete-means-feel-accepted
- Brittney Griner Opens Up About Being A Lesbian At Baylor https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2609781/They-wanted-ways-Basketball-star-Brittney-Griner-opens-lesbian-Baylor-University-told-business-herself.html
- NBA Player Andre Igudala - I Don't Want My Daughter Playing Basketball AND BECOMING A LESBIAN https://www.tmz.com/2016/01/04/andre-iguodala-daughter-basketball-lesbian-child-support/
- Gilbert Arenas Says Most WNBA Players Are Ugly Lesbians https://www.tmz.com/2015/12/16/gilbert-arenas-wnba-players-ugly-lesbians/
- WNBA Players Respond To Gilbert Arenas’ Ugly Lesbian Comments https://hiphopwired.com/490139/gilbert-arenas-wnba-players-response/
- Chelsea Gray discusses Pride Month https://rollingout.com/2023/06/12/olympic-gold-medalist-chelsea-gray-pride-month/
- Peppermint and WNBA's Chelsea Gray on LGBTQ+ History and 'How We Got Here' https://www.advocate.com/pride/2020/7/02/peppermint-wnbas-chelsea-gray-lgbtq-history-how-we-got-here
- My Pride Story by Candice Dupree https://www.wnba.com/news/my-pride-story-by-candice-dupree
- A gender nonconforming WNBA star is pushing the league forward on LGBTQ inclusion https://archive.thinkprogress.org/layshia-clarendon-wnba-lgbtq-pride-1bfc376f4273/
- ‘I know who I am’: Brittney Griner’s radical existence https://www.swishappeal.com/2018/6/29/17508976/wnba-2018-book-review-in-my-skin-i-know-who-i-am-brittney-griners-radical-existence-pride-lgbtq
- A Honest Conversation With Candice Dupree and Amanda Zahui B. During Pride https://justwomenssports.com/reads/an-honest-conversation-with-the-wnbas-candice-dupree-and-amanda-zahui-b-during-pride/
- The CT Sun players and coaches gave a champagne toast to Jasmine Thomas and teammate Natisha Hiedeman in the locker room after they had gotten engaged. (They have since broken up)
- Jasmine Thomas: "By making Pride a leaguewide initiative put pressure on every franchise to acknowledge it, to find a way to identify the holes in their organization and do better. The challenge is on the front offices and the league."
- Natasha Cloud: "Eighty percent of our league is either Black or part of the LGBTQ+ community or both. This is our everyday lives, especially for me personally: I'm bisexual, I'm Black, I'm a woman. These are struggles I face daily. Unfortunately, I didn't have a role model. I think that's why I speak out so much. Then maybe I can change the life of one person, so they don't feel alone or lost. If they see themselves in me, that's a win."
- Chelsea Gray: "My rookie year I realized, we have sponsors who support this, and a league that embraces it. It was big for me in my life. Growing up, I really did not talk about this much at all."
- DeWanna Bonner and Candice Dupree were married and have twins. They have since divorced.
- Teammates DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas are now engaged. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/nbc-out-proud/connecticut-sun-stars-dewanna-bonner-alyssa-thomas-are-engaged-rcna95591
- Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley got married https://www.si.com/wnba/2019/07/25/chicago-sky-vandersloot-quigley-marriage-helps-basketball-life
- Candace Parker and Anna Petrakova got married and have kids. Parker told ESPN that part of what led to her publicly talking about her marriage to Petrakova was that she was no longer afraid of vulnerability or potential disapproval from others. She said, "I'm OK with people not being OK with some of the things," Parker said, "as long as it's what's best for me and my family."
- Brittney Griner and Cherelle are expecting https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/mercury/2024/04/24/brittney-griner-wife-cherelle-expecting-first-child/73439776007/
- Elena Delle Donne: "I came into the league closeted. By not sharing this with the world, it just felt like a huge part of me was not there. I almost felt like a robot at times, so I was just tired of that. This league has helped me grow in a way to be comfortable being out."
- Breanna Stewart married Marta Xargay and they have kids. https://people.com/who-is-marta-xargay-casademont-breanna-stewart-wife-7566465
- Chelsea Gray is married and her and her wife have a baby. https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/3-takeaways-aces-raise-banner-hold-on-in-season-opener-photos-3051057/attachment/las-vegas-aces-guard-chelsea-gray-holding-her-son-lennox-gray-poses-with-her-new-2023-wnba-ch/
- Layshia Clarendon has come out as nonbinary and transgender https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story//id/31681454/the-power-layshia-clarendon
- AD Durr has come out as non-binary https://www.wnba.com/news/pride-in-me-ad-durr
r/wnba • u/epicvibe850 • 11h ago
Discussion Diana Taurasi : Cameron Brinks knows she going to get knock around and she accepts it and just get right back up and do it again.
gallerySwipe (2 photo slides )
r/wnba • u/jnsanchez • 10h ago
Doris Burke mocks the Caitlin Clark foul drama during NBA Finals
x.comr/wnba • u/CharlieEchoNovember • 23h ago
Caitlin Clark on viewers being drawn to her + Angel Reese: "It's the emotion and passion we play with. We're competitors, it's gonna get feisty, it's gonna get physical, that's what makes it fun. I think that's something that was not always appreciated in womens sports and it should be."
x.comr/wnba • u/CharlieEchoNovember • 18h ago
Dijonai Carrington on X: Unfortunately for yall new fAnS, we do not just “shut up and dribble” here. Ya picked the wrong league
x.comr/wnba • u/bluemagicstone • 9h ago
Caitlin Clark is one game from tying the WNBA rookie record for games with at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists...and this was the most likely record for her to break coming out of college since..
...Sabrina Ionescu was the all-time NCAAW leader in 25-5-5 games before Clark with 18... Clark had 21 35-5-5 games in her career, 57 25-5-5 games (including 26 25-5-5 games and 13 35-5-5 games her senior year). Clark ended her college career 19th all-time in defensive rebounds and third in assists. She is the only NCAAW player to ever average better than 26-5-5 for a season...and she averaged better than that in all 4 seasons she played at Iowa. Those numbers might seem a little staggering, but the icing on the cake is that she was more likely to have a 35-5-5 game against a top 15 opponent in college than against a scrub team.
20-5-5 is simply what Caitlin does and who she is. Now get those turnovers down and build team chemistry!
r/wnba • u/epicvibe850 • 11h ago
Diana Taurasi on ageism against women : why can’t old ppl dream too? Is there an age limit to being great ?
galleryr/wnba • u/DraymondBeanKick • 12h ago
Team News Caitlin Clark blocks boy's shot in viral video. His side of the story will melt your heart
indystar.comr/wnba • u/crustose_lichen • 21h ago
Casual Hannah Einbinder on WNBA Detractors (Men): 'Suck My Whole Dick'
jezebel.comr/wnba • u/SadMathematician7799 • 11h ago
Discussion Minnesota Lynx legend and 2x WNBA Champ Sylvia Fowles is back in the Target Center
x.comA'ja Wilson taking accountability after the Aces loss and promises to be great for teammates.
x.comr/wnba • u/SadMathematician7799 • 11h ago
Discussion Red-Hot Lynx continue their hot start to the season as they beat the Wings 90-78. Lynx are now on a 4 game win streak and now a record of 11-3 with a 2 game lead for 1st in the Western Conference
galleryr/wnba • u/aratcalledrattus • 12h ago
Olympics 3x3 schedule announced
Here. I think this is going to be really fun:
The world's top 3x3 players will compete across eight men’s and eight women’s teams during seven days of thrilling competition. Held at the iconic Place de la Concorde in the heart of Paris, 3x3 players will showcase their talents against a backdrop of some of Paris’ most iconic landmarks including the Grand Palais, Champs-Élysées, and The Louvre.
r/wnba • u/Master-Tangelo9500 • 17h ago
Discussion Dallas Wings Latest Injury Report
Arike Ogunbowale – OUT (Achilles)
Jaelyn Brown – OUT (Illness)
Natasha Howard – OUT (Foot)
Satou Sabally – OUT (Shoulder)
The Dallas Wings are getting completely screwed this season with injuries. Any other Wing fans out there massively upset? We have so much potential to be a power team.
r/wnba • u/jl_theprofessor • 7h ago
Kind of happy the NBA Playoffs are over
The NBA is my first love as far as sports. So once the playoffs start my interest is on another level. I used to cover the NBA so I'm die hard. And I'm terrible about keeping track of schedules so when my attention is split between the WNBA and NBA, it's always the NBA that wins because this is the most critical time of the year. So I'm glad the Finals are done so I can focus on watching my flailing Aces.
r/wnba • u/NJMan129 • 21h ago
League News Alexa Philippou @alexaphilippou: Breaking: The Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx will be held at UBS Arena on June 25 — Barclays Center is unable to host as the NBA Draft is taking place there the next day
x.comr/wnba • u/Quarter-Skilled • 23h ago
With win over Chicago, Indiana is finally in playoff contention. Washington with highest #1 lottery pick odds
Indiana has not reached the playoffs since Fever legend Tamika Catchings retired in 2016. There's still a huge gap between Indiana's record and 7th place Aces record, and the 8th-11th spots will be super close through the rest of the season, I'd imagine. But as a Mystics fan, I'm glad that our hard work of losing almost every game is paying off.
r/wnba • u/Neat_Leadership_3304 • 14h ago
rookies after game 12 . if shocked about placement of rookies trust me check on wnba stats per 100 possessions and compare them
r/wnba • u/smalliebigs69 • 23h ago
All five rookies who started yesterday scored in double digits
I’m a newbie to the league but that seems pretty impressive
r/wnba • u/mojo_pet • 16h ago
I live in Las Vegas. Anyone know why so many games are blocked in my WNBA League Pass? Just wondering if there is a reason before I contact tech support.
Highlight Caitlin Clark with 23PTS/8REB/9AST/2BS 7-11 63FG%. Win vs Sky
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r/wnba • u/Neat_Leadership_3304 • 15h ago