The WNBA and its fans are in a constant struggle to outdo whatever previous record they already set for most ridiculous sports league ever created.
Despite their best efforts and hard work, the WNBA has seen its popularity and general interest increase in recent years thanks primarily to Caitlin Clark. Clark, who singlehandedly brought ratings and attendance up, to the point where the players now receive significantly better salaries and travel benefits, is widely disliked across the league and by many fans of other teams.
Then, over the last several weeks and months, the self-destructive tendencies and nature of the WNBA organization, its coaches, and fans has reared its ugly head yet again. This time, their ire has been directed at Sophie Cunningham.
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What did Cunningham do to deserve this treatment? She made comments publicly supportive of keeping male athletes out of women's sports. A position shared by 80%-90% of the American public, and 0% of the league's players, coaches, or officials. Who are preparing for weeks and months of meetings to try and decide on a definition of the word "woman," in the Women's National Basketball Association.
For this unforgivable crime, Cunningham has been booed, faced protests, been criticized by other players, saw opposing coaches wear t-shirts specifically targeted at her. Her own coach rushed to come to the defense of DiJonai Carrington after Carrington clotheslined her, leading to a bloody mouth.
And now, in perhaps the most ridiculous and explanatory example of the league's fandom, has seen her name banned from the WNBA subreddit. Seriously.
One Reddit user tried to post about Sophie Cunningham in the r/WNBA subreddit, only to find that they weren't able to use her name or several other abbreviations. They then messaged the moderators, who then confirmed that this was a purposeful decision and that any further questioning would lean to being banned.
"Why do you ban people from posting about Sophie Cunningham, who's a WNBA player?," the user asked. "We filter content based on Sophi [sic] because it tends to bring out trolls and people who aren't fans of the W," the mod answered.
"But she's a WNBA player that does have actual fans," the user responded. "If you can't post about a player you're a fan of, that seems ridiculous."
"We have chosen to filter content. If you want to post freely about Sophie you can go to a different sub," the mod said. Unsurprisingly, the user pointed out that it's absurd to block posts about a WNBA player in the r/WNBA subreddit, asking how that made sense.
"You aren't even a contributor to this sub, so I suggest you go back to the other WNBA subs. This is our decision. If you keep messaging about this you will be banned," the moderator answered.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Oh yeah. That's the WNBA fandom we all know and "love."
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It really is a near-perfect example of the problems with the league and those around it. They are comically disconnected from the real world and totally disinterested in building up the players people care about. New fans, brought in by Clark and enjoying Cunningham, are raising the profile of the league. And as the old expression goes, a rising tide lifts all boats.
Instead of realizing that, accepting it, celebrating it, and building on it to make the WNBA more popular permanently, after Clark retires, they're doing everything possible to undermine it. Working hard to ensure that any fans who have started watching because of these players is turned off by the fans. Or by the league's open disregard for them. Typical WNBA brilliance.