Does the “W” in WNBA stand for Woman or Woke?
Across the pond, women’s sports coverage is becoming increasingly circumspect, with camera angles designed not to sexualize their performance at the expense of their athleticism. If that trend extends over here, it could be extra challenging in the future WNBA.
Since the WNBA is struggling to define what on earth a woman is, maybe the recruiting floodgates will open wide. So far, a couple of ex-NBA players have expressed an interest in joining the league. If they are indeed eligible per current rules, why not? Rules are rules.
On the other hand, the prospect of men competing in the WNBA could offend those with stricter sensual sensibilities. Furthermore, it might detract from the professional dignity of players (such as exists in the WNBA). Since basketball is often a contact sport, an influx of male players could lead to indecorous interplay as players brush up against each other across the hardwood, regardless of camera angles.
Consider the progress of a guard bouncing the ball down the court. Often, she is bumped and grinded to slow her progression, while taking seconds off the shot clock. Maybe to protect the ball as she sways backward and sideways down the court, the guard may instinctively thrust her ample personage into the male defender’s midriff. Or nether regions — it doesn’t take much imagination.
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 09: Erica Wheeler #17 of the Los Angeles Sparks drives the ball during a WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on August 9, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire)
What about the old crossover move? A female defender might swipe away to intercept the crossing ball, but, being slower than the man, she accidentally hits the attacking male’s unmentionables. Ouch, they’d have to add that to the list of flagrant fouls.
The famed pick-and-roll may also raise eyebrows among virtuous viewers in the heartland. If a female player gets too cozy while doing a “pick” on a male player, it might transgress personal boundaries. I won’t dwell on the “through the legs” trick to bypass a tight defense, other than to say it better be accurate.
At first, viewership may swell, especially among the prurient, but it comes at a time when various sporting organizations (e.g., the International Olympic Committee and the European Broadcasting Union) are adopting guidelines to curtail the sexualization of female athletes. Indeed, the EBU’s guidelines on camera angles in women’s athletics competitions include no low-angle shots, lingering close-ups, or slow-motion replays — spoil sports!
Many who tune in for women’s sports may be intrigued by their “personalities” as well as the action. As for the WNBA, they better happen upon the obvious scientific definition of a woman before it becomes a risqué spectacle that makes a mockery of James Naismith’s brainchild.
Make it clear the “W” conforms to nature’s dictates. It stands for Woman, not Woke.
