mary freeman

A MESSAGE TO WNBA SPONSORS, INVESTORS & CORPORATE PARTNERS I’m going to say something that needs to be said, and I’m saying it as a BLACK MAN who has supported women’s basketball and wants to see the WNBA succeed. Sponsors and investors need to start paying attention to the narratives being pushed around this league. Monica McNutt. Andraya Carter. Chiney Ogwumike. There is a growing perception among fans that when the subject is Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, or the Indiana Fever, the conversation repeatedly becomes about what THEY need to do differently, what THEY need to take accountability for, how THEY need to speak up, or how THEY are somehow responsible for the actions of other people. But when the exact same standard should be applied to Black players, that energy often seems to disappear. That is a problem. And I’m not saying Black players should be treated more harshly. I’m saying they should be treated exactly the same. If Caitlin Clark is expected to answer for her fans, then every player should be expected to answer for their own supporters. If Sophie Cunningham deserves criticism for her actions, then so does every other player. If Caitlin is expected to demonstrate “self-awareness,” then that expectation cannot suddenly disappear when the player involved is Black. And if a player is ejected for a Flagrant 2 and then publicly posts about “WHITE PRIVILEGE,” that deserves to be discussed with the same seriousness that every controversial Caitlin Clark moment receives. You cannot demand accountability from one group while constantly explaining, contextualizing and defending another. That isn’t equality. And sponsors should care about this. Because your money is helping build this league. Your brands are attached to the broadcasts, the players, the analysts and the conversations surrounding the WNBA. You have every right to expect the people representing this league to promote competition, fairness and unity — not repeatedly reinforce racial division or create the perception that certain players are held to a different standard because of their race. I’m not asking sponsors to silence anyone. I’m asking you to WATCH. Watch the commentary. Watch who gets criticized. Watch who gets defended. Watch who is told to take accountability. Watch who gets their behavior explained away. And most importantly, watch whether the standard remains the same when the jersey, the team and the player’s race changes. Because fans are watching. And fans are the reason sponsors have an audience to market to in the first place. The WNBA has an incredible opportunity in front of it. But you cannot build a bigger league by constantly dividing the people who are watching it. Hold everyone accountable. Protect nobody from legitimate criticism. Attack nobody because of their race. And stop pretending fans don’t notice the difference. I’m a Black man saying this because I believe the standard should be fair for everybody. If the WNBA wants my support, my viewership and my money, then I expect the same fairness from the people representing it. #FeverWin #fever #wnba #racist #espnw @stoolpresidente @espnW @stephenasmith @McNuttMonica @Andraya_Carter @chiney @FirstTake @budweiserusa @Nike @StateFarm