Let’s examine a few of the comments following the showdown between Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu in a 3-point shooting contest on Saturday night. Curry narrowly defeated the Liberty star by just 3 points, with a final score of 29-26, both shooting from the NBA arc.
“I didn’t shy away from the challenge of facing the greatest shooter this game has ever seen,” Ionescu told Malika Andrews. “She wasn’t afraid of the moment or the stage, and she proved herself,” Curry stated.
Then, Kenny Smith, on the TNT broadcast, suggested, “She should have shot from the 3-point line that the women shoot from,” as Ionescu and Curry embraced on the court. He repeated this statement multiple times. Numerous broadcasters seem eager to imply that women’s participation, records, or fandom are somehow inferior. This is not indifference; it’s outright disrespect. Even if Ionescu had followed Smith’s suggestion and beaten Curry from the WNBA arc, it wouldn’t have garnered the same respect as tying the All-Star 3-point champion Damian Lillard on the same court. Those who seek to undermine Ionescu will find fault regardless of the circumstances. They simply do not appreciate her achievements.
Smith’s timing and venue for expressing his grievances were inappropriate. Moreover, TNT missed an opportunity to provide these competitors with their well-deserved moment and attract curious viewers who tuned in to witness this event. “We needed a woman on the headsets, too,” Sue Bird remarked on social media. “So much subtlety and storytelling were missed. 26 is 26, though.” Bird’s observation is accurate. Why not invite someone like Candace Parker, who has played in the WNBA and covered both leagues as a broadcaster, to provide the nuanced and contextual analysis that a game like this warrants? There are several qualified individuals, such as Swin Cash, former Knicks broadcaster and Liberty player, or Kate Scott, 76ers broadcaster, who could fulfill this role.
These networks are sending a clear message to new fans tuning into events like this – you can watch, but you will always remain an outsider. Any woman who has listened to a broadcast or sports talk radio where a male host uses dating analogies to discuss players knows exactly what I mean. It becomes evident that they are not speaking to you; they are addressing their male audience, and you are merely present.
Regrettably, incidents like this are not isolated. Consider the CBS broadcast of the Super Bowl this year. Many fans eagerly awaited the moment when Travis Kelce, fresh off his second consecutive championship, reunited with Taylor Swift in the celebration. However, the announcers on the feed ignored this moment and instead focused on “statistical-wise” topics and, inappropriately, the death of Norma Hunt. It was only when Nate Burleson intervened and apologized to the viewers that they finally addressed the point that many were waiting for. “I know we want to talk about football right now, but as I look at Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift…”
The football game had ended, and catharsis should not overshadow the actual events taking place. Fox Sports continues to employ Alexi Lalas for Women’s World Cup games, despite his previous comments referring to the women’s team as “unlikeable” and “polarizing.” Is he truly the best analyst Fox can offer, considering his lack of international success?
Then there’s Jay Williams, who took Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking moment and made it about himself, stating that she wouldn’t be a truly great player until she won an NCAA national title. It’s worth noting that Williams attended Duke University, a basketball powerhouse, while Clark chose the smaller program of Iowa. Oh, wait, it’s the other way around. Williams attended a perennial tournament team, while Clark built one.
When preparing for sports talk radio or shows like First Take or Sports Reporters, I would diligently study the stats and context, fearing being called out for not knowing something or getting it wrong. Unfortunately, it seems that these commentators aren’t putting in the same effort. They may excel in the areas they choose to focus on – I’m sure they possess extensive knowledge about the men they cover and watch. However, are they dedicating the same level of commitment to women’s sports? If they are, they are doing a terrible job of conveying that dedication during crucial moments.
Smith truly missed an opportunity by making the moment about his own misguided opinion rather than fulfilling his role as a broadcaster. While the crowd cheered and Curry and Ionescu embraced, Smith continued with his self-centered commentary about the size of the WNBA ball and the placement of the arc. Similar to the CBS crew’s failure during the Super Bowl, they are not just calling a competition but an event. It is essential to provide proper context – genuine context, Kenny – without relying on stereotypes and biases clouding your judgment.
This is not the first cross-over event to attract attention for the Battle of the Sexes. In 2003, golfer Annika Sorenstam played The Colonial, and her performance on the first day set a new record for the USA Network during a PGA tournament. Danica Patrick had a similar impact on racing. These are moments that can attract a new audience to a sport. Even when it seemed like the NFL couldn’t become more dominant, Taylor Swift began attending games, resulting in the most-watched Super Bowl in history, with the percentage of women in the audience increasing to 48 percent. Billie Jean King’s victory over Bobby Riggs in 1973 is argued to have set the stage for the modern era of women’s sports.
These events serve to cross-pollinate fan bases, and this is particularly important for the WNBA, as there is still room for growth. Whether it’s the US Open or the Olympics, having both men and women compete together benefits all athletes involved. “Thank you for shining a spotlight on the men’s game,” Malika Andrews quipped to Ionescu after the interview, eliciting laughter from the Liberty guard.
And that’s how you effectively handle a broadcast like this.
According to the Source deadspin.com