Ballers

I love great basketball. That's why I love Sabrina Ionescu. That's why I loved this last UO Women's Basketball team. Because it was great basketball. But one of the main things I love about Basketball is when it means more than that. The impact that players can have on kids growing up as positive role models, people to look up to with strong work ethic and determination. That's something that I think is so unique and special about women's sports, that these women can showcase how to excel at a highly competitive level and be an example for an entire half of the population. But it begs the question, why can’t they be an example to the entire population? Scrolling through comments about female athletes when they get posted on twitter or instagram still blows me away with just how inconsiderate and ignorant people can be. I thought jokes about women making sandwiches were an embarrassing relic of a bygone era, but there they are receiving thousands of likes and popping up with almost every other comment. The statement “Don’t feed the trolls” definitely applies here, but it should be noted the the problem extends beyond blatantly misogynistic attempts at humor. The lack of attention and support for these teams and these athletes is palpable. I’m also guilty. I have watched several hundred NBA games over the last 5 years, but only a handful on WNBA games, if that. Part of it stems from lack of accessibility and exposure, but a lot of it also stems from inherent bias. At the same time, it doesn’t take becoming a WNBA superfan to be a supporter of women in the sport, all it takes is noticing ballers when they ball. And Sabrina Ionescu is a baller.