“The black players who built women’s hoops… are not recognized.” “It’s important that the faces of the future look like the faces of the past.” USA Today The author argued this in his editorial.
First, Thursday’s work highlighted The Fox News headline read, “Women’s Basketball Needs a Black Future Face.”
Lindsey Schnell, Corporate Reporter Exitand JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo write that they are set to be the future of women’s basketball but have little of the marketing support needed to reach that goal.
“We’re not losing to any power broker in the game. Both of these players are Black. And in a game built by Black women, it’s important that the faces of the future look like the faces of the past.” Schnell wrote.
Schnell noted that marketing tactics revolve around Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu and Paige Backers.
“Too often, the Black players who built women’s hoops and now reign at the professional level in the WNBA, which is 70% Black, are not recognized,” she continued.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish take a shot during the second half of the game against the Louisville Cardinals during the quarterfinals of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 8, 2024 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Hannah Hidalgo (photo taken on March 8, 2024). (Lance King/Getty Images)
“Part of it has to do with position. Casual fans get hooked on playmakers and athletes who create shots with the ball in their hands. Paint players may have good footwork But that doesn’t usually lead to reel highlights: Power forward A’ja Wilson, perhaps the best player in the world and with more awards than Walgreens, has Clark’s star power. Think about not having one.”
Schnell also pointed out that LSU’s Angel Reese was criticized for the trash talk he gave Clark in last year’s NCAA title game, “although Clark himself talked a lot of trash throughout the tournament.”
Clark later told ESPN that Reese should not have been criticized “at all.”
