Women's Basketball Is Having A Moment, But We Need To Check 1 Thing

Coach Dawn Staley made history a few times over when she led the South Carolina Gamecocks to win the NCAA Womens Basketball Championship over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday, capping off an undefeated season.

That, unfortunately, wasnt the leading narrative on Monday as sports fans pointed out hypocrisy in coverage. Several outlets elevated the star player of the losing team, Caitlin Clark, over Staleys unprecedented victory. CNN featured a photo of Clark instead of one of the victorious South Carolina team in its original story before eventually changing it. In Complexs coverage, a writer asked what was behind the hate for Clark yet the sites sports section barely discusses this years champions.

Theres a double standard in how we talk about womens basketball. Journalist Daric L. Cottingham called it out on the latest episode of I Know Thats Right. 

Listen to the episode here.

Theres so many editorial stories in an undefeated championship basketball team, but [you] have the emphasis and focus be on the star player of the losing team, she said.

Cottingham also noted that shes seen this in how pundits and fans talk about former Louisiana State University star Angel Reese, whos headed to the WNBA draft along with Clark. 

You get Caitlin, who is this star, but then Angel Reese is this showy girl. Shes always too showy, shes too cocky. Black women do not get to be confident... But then I tell you, Im lowing out, this thing really affected me. Ive been dealing with a lot of racism. [And] now youre a victim, she said, referring to the backlash Reese received after sharing her vulnerability at the post-game press conference after LSUs loss. 

Womens basketball is undoubtedly having a moment. Its arguably more entertaining than mens basketball, as seen by the record-breaking viewership numbers  for the womens championship.

Its a great time in basketball, but we cant ignore the huge shadow of misogynoir rearing its head as we continue to talk about these athletes.