WNBA – FIBA – Is it Rife with Racism “Privilege”?
When I first heard about, or rather started paying attention to the WNBA, was a few years ago; after hearing about this Iowa NCAA basketball guard Caitlin Clark. Her ridiculous distance three-point shots and fast paced plays were mesmerizing. Over the years, I’ve watched many live NCAA and WNBA and NBA games, and I’ve looked for highlights of their games – mostly from any of the teams in the NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments. I remember watching for multiple years, and being so captivated by the play and drama, but primarily I watched the men’s division 1.
I was a NY Knicks fan in the early 70’s and can still name a half dozen players from that era; and I can still remember the report I wrote on Lewis Alcinder (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in the 2nd grade. As a young man, I played some basketball with friends over the years. I wasn’t too good. I now watch every Indiana Fever game, and watch highlights from other WNBA games – I’m a huge fan.
I grew up in a racially divided world, in upstate NY. I recognized poverty and socio-economic ‘class’ differences; being both poorer and white – though I realize this is still vastly different from growing up brown or black in America in the 70s. My first girlfriend was a black girl. I can remember going to her house one night for a birthday party, two blocks over from my street. It was late Autumn – early Winter. I was probably 10 or 11 years old, and she lived on a hill; there was ice, and she fell, out in front of her house. I remember when I came inside after, feeling like I was being looked at strangely. I thought in retrospect, that the adults were asking who is this kid – this “white kid”? Is that racist to think that? I think about it, if I wasn’t known to them – if I hadn’t been there before much or during a larger than usual gathering; which I think was the case – as I think the ‘relationship’ between us was pretty new; why wouldn’t a family wonder who this kid was? Maybe they didn’t. Maybe I just felt weird, though I only remember feeling concerned for my friend. Someone, her mom maybe, said they would let me know how she was. I don’t remember staying. Thinking back, the only other thing I remember was that her older brother was a high-school basketball player of some note. Is that me trying to justify my existence and awareness? But, either way, that all doesn’t change the idea that I recognized differences. Being poor was being underprivileged. Being black or brown, was problematically worse for many people.
The 7th grade, as most middle-schoolers can easily attest, was difficult. I saw a way to get out of my situation by moving to my dad’s house instead of continuing with my mom, brother and sister where I lived then; so, I took it. I lived in a suburb of a smaller city than the one I had lived in. The move didn’t avoid the many issues facing kids growing up in the 70s, or in any time, but I do remember it still seemed to never be easy….
In high school, I joined a team sport and did well in my individual events; winning the All-County award for highest points in my event, in the NYS D.C.S.L. championship in 1979. After taking a few years off before starting college, I joined the College team in my sport and did ok. I say all this as a reference to being involved in sports and being aware of cultural differences. I skied, played tennis and golf, and was a decent springboard diver.
I grew up in towns and cities with higher-than-average minority presences; the first city was at roughly 40% non-white (US national average was at 13-14%) and I recognized that there were differences. Differences in access, in treatment, in responses to politics and life in general; and that race was and is a constant demographic – that needed healing in our country, and across the world. It still does – I am convinced it still does.
Systemic Racism is a real thing. How to address it is one of the most difficult aspects of society we face. Systemic racism is a worldwide issue. Cultural and religious differences are faced in the West, but also in the Middle East. The history of the State of Israel, though even if viewed through the more recent 100-year lens, is mired in thousands of years of historical struggle. Looking at this, one can see and hear many voices expressing points of view central to their viewpoints. Isn’t this the same the world over? If we select Arab/ Muslim as the viewpoint, we hear and see their shared events and experiences – leading to a story of a prevailing attitude of racial and religious discrimination against them and by them in response. The same is true from the Israeli viewpoint, a view seen from racial and religious discrimination against them and by them in response. Our affinity to either side does not equate to a diminished level of racism. It has occurred; it is occurring – it can’t not. But it can be acknowledged. Perspective doesn’t change facts. It can, however, change awareness, and that can affect behavior.
In the New Testament, Matthew 24:6-8 states partially: “wars and rumors of war… are just the beginnings of the ‘Birth’ pains” – not the end of times. We have had wars for most if not all of human history, and race has played one of the most historic factors in them. But what of the “Birth” mentioned? New life, as in a new birth, involves pain, but can result in a ‘new life dynamic’. The Christian bible talks about this ‘Birth’ as the coming kingdom of God. But even a ‘Birth’ of new understanding and acceptance is a goal to strive toward. Hopefully, strong voices of a conciliatory nature, can provide new perspectives of peaceful coexistence in the Middle East and also in the US.
Race in America has had its own long and difficult history. Slavery by white ruling class society, existed for far too long in the US and worldwide. And its influence is still felt today. Worldwide, ownership slavery has mostly been abolished, but illegal control slavery still exists – estimates of 40 million plus ‘enslaved’ are mentioned in a quick online search. Modern slavery includes any system where people are forced to work or exploited under threat, deception, or coercion. I can say I wish it weren’t still happening, but that doesn’t do anything for those under its sway. I can voice my perspective that equality and fairness in the treatment of everyone in society is an exemplary attitude; and that those attitudes still need much work. Policies and choices from both white and non-white; both people of color and not, Jew and non-Jew, both Muslim and non-Muslim; and both Arab and non-Arab – Change is desperately needed. It may be a drastic oversimplification, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the truth.
In the WNBA and society in the West as a whole, both need to work on their attitudes and behaviors concerning racism. Just because we may be somehow blind to these internal attitudes of discrimination doesn’t make them any less real, or make the need to declare and abolish them any less either. In hearts and minds, acknowledgement brings awareness, and awareness can bring change. Change is what is needed, and dare I say, Love is the answer?
If you are a minority, I suspect, understanding of the need for fairness and equality is paramount – and accountability toward those specific goals cannot be underestimated. In the WNBA, almost 65% identify as Black or African American, to almost 20% white (smithandhattery.com), as compared to 60% white and 14% nationally identifying as non-white/black in the US. As of the 2025 statistics, there was only 1 out of the 13 teams’ female head coaches who identified as black. In 2026, 2 male and 0 female head coaches are persons of color. The non-irony here is that race demographics in society and in the make-up of players have had their numbers juxtaposed. But there has been little change in expression. It should be a good thing, but continued race-baiting by both ‘sides’ only continues the struggle for fairness, equality, and acceptance. The large increase in viewership and sales (of various related items – tickets and merch…), increasing visibility and platform, can in the recent past be attributed to Caitlin Clark and her Style of Play. If you have never watched a WNBA game, I highly recommend you do so. The sport is fast paced, fun, and fairly easy to follow. Though don’t get me going on officiating. The fact that she’s white shouldn’t matter a damn.
Finding a voice to express my sadness in what has increasingly becoming a sport dominated by political and seemingly racially charged rhetoric and behavior; on the part of fans, players, the ownership of the WNBA Teams, and the League officials themselves, is quite disconcerting. I see a place where the love of sport, the challenge of competition, and the camaraderie of those enduring the years of training and dedication should solidly unify them. I see a platform of peaceful, albeit competitive, striving for dominance that could lead the way and the story of the end of racial discrimination, not more division. My opinion will be different from others, I know. However, that kid who grew up in the racially charged 60’s and 70’s remembers first experiencing racism, and remembers hating it. Do better WNBA. Do better World!
