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WNBA Players Sound Off on Inequality

Online trolls went wild when it was announced that the WNBA will be featured in the popular NBA 2K video game franchise. For players and coaches, this dismissal of the women's game is growing tiresome. šŸ€

All 12 WNBA teams and players are making their debut in NBA 2K20

Online trolls targeted the NBA 2K video game series for its landmark decision to include WNBA players in its newest title. For members of the team Chicago Sky, this kind of sexism is nothing new. In its 23 years, the WNBA has seen lower attendance viewership coverage by media outlets. Only ahead during the 2019 season has social media pressure resulted in more favorable TV deals, and a rating rise of 64% according to data from the WNBA. Players say they havenā€™t seen this translate into an uptick in financial support. Still inspiration has come from the World Cup-winning U.S. womenā€™s soccer team, as well as seeing a general shift towards equality.

ā€œMedia outlets don't normalize women's basketball on them. It's 50 men's posts for every one women's post. And, you know, if people were to continuously put us on there as much as they put men's and it would become normal. And people wouldn't feel the need to go out of their way to hate it. But. People put less and less of it because of the amount of hate without realizing that's not helping the problem,ā€ explains Katie Lou Samuelson

Facebook, forums like Reddit, personal Twitter handles, YouTube, and even 2Kā€™s own blog hasnā€™t been spared but the developers have said that itā€™s proud of its decision to include women in the upcoming title. ā€œOur franchise has always been rooted in capturing the true essence of basketball ā€“ it doesnā€™t matter who is playing ā€“ if you love the game, you love the game,ā€ said a spokesperson. ā€œAs true lovers of basketball, we take great pride in bringing the womenā€™s game to the millions of NBA 2K fans around the globe.ā€ The moderator claimed that he had to remove dozens of sexist posts in a matter of hours. On Twitter, players like Breanna Stewart and Candace Parker continued to face harassment over the addition.

Brut.

08/24/2019 12:01 PM
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56 comments

  • Mandy S.
    08/24/2019 12:09

    I'm a female. I played highschool and college basketball in Toronto. I don't watch the WNBA. Infact Toronto is in the works to get a WNBA team. I strongly oppose it. The women's hockey league just folded. The same will happen if they bring a team here. Just stick to the Raptors.

  • Davon R.
    08/24/2019 12:53

    I canā€™t wait to be able to play as the women! I liked playing the ladies in UFC Cris Cyborg is untouchable and thatā€™s in my mama!!! šŸ˜‚šŸ‡§šŸ‡·šŸ”„

  • Antoine C.
    08/24/2019 15:08

    šŸ‘ŒšŸ’ÆšŸ’ÆšŸ”„

  • Sai
    08/24/2019 18:07

    I love the idea of having the WNBA in the 2k20. We need to stop hating on them there is no discrimination. If they have love for the game they deserve to be recognized Nd have a part in this game. They need to do something bout there paychecks too

  • Eliezer B.
    08/24/2019 18:58

    People don't watch WNBA games because there are no dunks in the games... Lower the baskets a feet or 2 and when woman start posterisieng each other with savage dunks people will want to watch!

  • Joshua R.
    08/25/2019 18:16

    Por culpa de gente como

  • Darius M.
    08/26/2019 03:46

    Its sad that they have to pressure media into something. So that means that people cant like it on their own. Media doesnt cover it because its not the same viewership level. I like wnba but lets stop acting like its the NBA.

  • Pulak M.
    08/26/2019 11:46

    Kas.e..

  • Brut
    08/26/2019 13:43

    Sheā€™s the first woman to ever coach in the NFL. Now, Dr. Jen Welter is looking to change the way both boys and girls think about gender in sports. šŸˆ0

  • Lawrence A.
    08/26/2019 19:19

    Now we have 14 year old kids (boys) dunking in games, people are just not fans of fast break layups šŸ„“

  • Austin N.
    08/27/2019 02:28

    Id rather watch women sports

  • Tremin D.
    08/27/2019 11:56

    All I have to say is I love womenā€™s sports but.......the same team that one the womenā€™s soccer world cup. Cant beat the top amateur menā€™s soccer team. The competitive level is lower šŸ¤·šŸ¾ā€ā™‚ļø

  • Jesus M.
    08/27/2019 22:43

    como dice Dwight Shrute NBA is a sport WNBA is a joke šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£ la leyenda

  • Jon V.
    08/28/2019 00:57

    Might be a dumb question but I genuinely donā€™t know the answer, is there a WNBA console game ?

  • Christine M.
    08/28/2019 02:30

    My baby gurl Loves playing basketball šŸ€

  • Jon V.
    08/28/2019 10:44

    Might be a dumb question but I genuinely donā€™t know the answer, is there a WNBA console game ?

  • Adrian H.
    08/28/2019 10:47

    The only reason they are doing this is because a WNBA console game would fall flat on its face. Stop trying to force men and women to be equal in sports across the board, they aren't and they never will be. It's the nature of competition, there ultimately are no equals.

  • Noah S.
    08/28/2019 11:58

    Why would we watch the WNBA when we can watch our local high school basketball team and see better basketball?

  • Raymond J.
    08/29/2019 03:16

    Women's sports just can't compete with men. For instance, Serena williams, in her prime, couldn't beat any man in the top 50....

  • Stephen D.
    08/30/2019 07:51

    I wonder why...