WNBA players don’t get the respect they deserve -- and they're speaking up about it.
Three players from the New York Liberty, Swin Cash, Tanisha Wright and Essence Carson spoke with The Player's Tribune about their experiences in the league, including dealing with negative stereotypes and sexist attitudes.
“More talents coming in but the recognition, the visibility the care of respecting the game, of what we do, I think that’s something we have to start looking at -- not just the fanbase but also on the media side,” Cash said in the video.
The three athletes discuss parts of their transition from being on premiere college teams to joining a professional league, saying it felt like they went from celebrities to being barely noticed.
“Moving up to the WNBA where you would expect a lot of media coverage, a lot of visibility, you would think that you would have more exposure, people would know who you are," Carson said. "It’s not like that at all.”
With more female athletes like Serena Williams and Ronda Rousey dominating headlines, the three women wonder why that celebration of women in sports hasn't come to the WNBA yet.
“How is it a great time to be a female athlete if you pick and choose who you leave out?" Carson asks, wondering if it's because the majority of the WNBA is African-American.
“I am all for women... not just a few and not just the ones that look pretty on camera because we all play a vital role in what our society’s gonna be shaped as," Cash said. "We have young girls that play this game, black, white, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, it doesn’t matter… But if we don’t start showing them that we care about all women, and not just some women, we’re gonna have a problem on our hands."
The players also point out how frequent (and absurd) it is that Joe Schmo at the local YMCA underestimates how talented WNBA players are and challenge them to a one-on-one.
"You’re tripping," Carson said in response to those men. "I'm a professional athlete. I do this for a living."
Serena WIlliams
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Open Image ModalNEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 07: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates defeating Simona Halep of Romania during their Women's Singles Quarterfinals Match on Day Ten of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) (credit:Alex Goodlett via Getty Images)
(02 of07)
Open Image ModalNEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 07: Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Simona Halep of Romania during their Women's Singles Quarterfinals Match on Day Ten of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 7, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Mike Hewitt via Getty Images)
(03 of07)
Open Image ModalSerena Williams of the US hits a return against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic during their 2016 US Open Womens Singles semifinal match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 8, 2016. / AFP / Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TIMOTHY A. CLARY via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalSerena Williams of the US reacts after winning a point against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic during their 2016 US Open Womens Singles semifinal match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 8, 2016.Serena Williams crashed out of the US Open on September 8, her semi-final defeat to Karolina Pliskova costing her a shot at a 23rd Grand Slam title and a record 187th straight week at number one. / AFP / Don EMMERT (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:DON EMMERT via Getty Images)
(05 of07)
Open Image ModalNEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during her Women's Singles Semifinal Match on Day Eleven of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Mike Hewitt via Getty Images)
(06 of07)
Open Image ModalMIAMI BEACH, FL - NOVEMBER 29: Serena Williams attends the Audemars Piguet Art Commission Presents 'Reconstruction of the Universe' By Sun Xun on November 29, 2016 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Audemars Piguet) (credit:Bryan Bedder via Getty Images)
(07 of07)
Open Image Modal2016 U.S. Open - Day 11 Serena Williams of the United States reacts during her loss against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the Women's Singles Semifinal match on Arthur Ashe Stadium on day eleven of the 2016 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2016 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) (credit:Tim Clayton - Corbis via Getty Images)
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