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“A Black and White Thing?”: Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes Calls Out WNBA for Abandoning A’ja Wilson’s Queen-Size?Impact

Oct 17, 2023 | 5:08 AM EDT

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A’ja Wilson is undoubtedly one of the most influential athletes out there. Heralded as the greatest since her college days, Wilson’s impact is nothing short of legendary. Unquestionably skilled on the court, she poses a constant danger both offensively and defensively, making her a formidable player. A’ja Wilson, though, stands out not just for her exceptional basketball skills but also for her off-court activities.

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A’ja Wilson is a key player in the WNBA’s campaign for social justice off the court, actively speaking up during the Black Lives Matter movement. However, is the league aware of her impact? Most recently, a WNBA legend and Hall of Famer, Sheryl Swoopes called out the WNBA for abandoning A’ja Wilson’s queen-size impact.

Sheryl Swoopes calls out the WNBA

Sheryl Swoopes recently appeared on an episode of ‘Gil’s Arena.’? She shed light on how modern stars like A’ja Wilson could draw inspiration from the trailblazers who came before them. The conversation also veered towards the fascinating topic of generational differences within the WNBA. Swoopes recalled how back in 1997 when the WNBA first tipped off, it was a very different landscape for players.

A few players were fortunate enough to have secured marketing deals with the league. This unique advantage allowed them to skip the usual overseas playing ventures during the off-season. Instead, the league invested in its players by paying them to stay and promote the WNBA, ensuring it remained in the public eye.

The off-season became an opportunity for players to not only rest but also actively market and promote the league. This strategy ensured that the WNBA remained fresh in people’s minds. For those who may not have been hardcore WNBA fans, the off-season promotions served as a reminder, keeping the league relevant.

However, this approach has evolved over the years. The league no longer invests in off-season promotions to the same extent as it did in its early years. Sheryl Swoopes then went on to call out the WNBA for abandoning A’ja Wilson’s queen-size impact.

Swoopes said, “I don’t know why it’s …personally I don’t know why it’s so hard for the league to say ‘We’re going to put you and you and you in the forefront. You’re the faces of the league you’re going to market the league.’?

Swoopes continued, “I don’t know why that is because to me Aja Wilson has done some incredible things in this league, not just this season. And A’ja should be the face of the league. That’s my opinion. I think they try to put other players in front whether that’s a black-and-white issue or a black-and-white thing I don’t know.

But when you have a league that is 90- 93% black women like we got to be better, you know what I mean. And Aja’s worked for it ain’t like she came in the league and hasn’t done anything.”

Being all about supporting women, Swoopes even gave out advice to A’ja Wilson before game 3 of the WNBA finals.

A’ja Wilson sought advice from Sheryl Swoopes

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The Aces are vying to become the first WNBA team to win back-to-back championships in 21 years. A’ja Wilson, the 2022 WNBA MVP is spearheading the battle for Las Vegas. Realizing what’s at stake, Wilson decided to consult Sheryl Swoopes, a Hall of Famer and WNBA legend.

Swoopes, who guided the Houston Comets to four titles in a row from 1997 to 2000, shared her wisdom with the emerging star. She recently shared her perspectives on the Queens of the Court podcast, which she co-hosts with basketball writer journalist Jordan Robinson. “I said, ‘Listen, at this point of the season, it’s the Finals, schemes don’t matter. You gotta hoop.'”?

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Swoopes continued, “At this point, it’s all about who wants it more, who’s gonna give that little extra, what edge do you have over, not just the team, but over the player that’s guarding you and the player that you’re guarding.”

Swoopes withheld some of the advice she gave Wilson, but the main takeaway was unmistakable: in the WNBA Finals’, you must embrace the pressure, seize the moment, and give it your all to win. Wilson reportedly got Swoopes’ phone number through Dawn Staley, her college coach. In addition to being bitter WNBA rivals, Staley and Swoopes were also partners on three gold-winning U.S. Olympic teams.

Watch This Story ??Despite Donning LeBron James Mentality, A?ja Wilson ?Hurts Like Hell? After Losing Historic MVP Status to Breanna Stewart

Do you think the Las Vegas Aces will emerge as WNBA Champions for the second consecutive year? Let us know in the comments below!