The beauty of the Internet today is that there is remarkable content being produced all over. From mainstream sites, to undervalued blogs, to start-ups … including one BY a former professional athlete FOR professional athletes.
The Players’ Tribune, which was founded by former MLB great Derek Jeter almost one year ago, gives athletes a forum to express their opinion how they want. Kevin Love, for example, used it in July to announce that he was staying in Cleveland.
This summer, The Players’ Tribune has done a lot of work with the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Stories and videos.
This latest poignant video cuts to the chase, and hits on the key questions and stereotypes of the league.
Why do you play in the WNBA? Are you all gay? What are the working conditions like?
… Oh, you’re a female hooper? I got next!
“We play because we love the game. This is home. This is the best players in the world,” said Swin Cash, who won two NCAA Titles at UConn and entered the ‘W’ in 2002. (Most players play year round because pay in the WNBA is not nearly enough. Salaries max out below $110,000 — and there’s more earnings overseas.)
The WNBA has been around since 1997, but has not gained national attention or popularity. It does have a loyal fan base. Sure, ratings for nationally televised games are up and the league says it’s growing … but it hasn’t caught on big time, and it is a third-tier sport for most publications.
Take seven minutes to watch this, and hear the passion coming from Cash, Tanisha Wright and Essence Carson. Kudos to these three and TPT. We need more of this.