At 34, Wiggins has also become much more aware of the value of time amid the pandemic. The biggest thing that I probably discovered [during the pandemic] is just the sense of time how much time is in charge. During the 2021 playoffs, updates were . Their eyes are set on . She really saw something in me and it just kind of transformed the nature of the traditional way, and I dont know how rare that is or not.. It was later confirmed that the man in the photos was American football player Hroniss Grasu. [Black WNBA players] won 80% of postseason awards, including: Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, and Sixth Woman of the Year. But also show more of a promise, more of an optimism.. "We must respect the rights of those we don't agree with when they speak their mind. These players now have the luxury of not only playing professional basketball in the United States, but that the environment has improved; enough that they dont have to hide the fact that they have a wife or girlfriend from their fans. While the WNBA hasnt always made the LGBTQ community proud with how it chooses to promote and accommodate its gay players, its fair to say that theyve made meaningful strides. There was a whole different set of rules they [the other players] could apply.. They get the most endorsements. So God has given me this remembrance, but I had a spirit of adoption almost envelope me at my dads service. As if the WNBA does a census. The New York Libertys Sue Wicks was the first player to formally and publicly come out in 2002. It can be quite hard. Natisha Hiedeman Briann January Jonquel Jones Alyssa Thomas Jasmine Thomas 2) Las Vegas Aces Chelsea Gray Angel McCoughtry Destiny Slocum Riquna Williams 3) Minnesota Lynx Layshia Clarendon Crystal. How many endorsements you get. These stereotypes lead to being treated differently (discrimination) and ultimately has affected players careers on the court (rosters spots, minutes) and off the court (endorsements, contracts). No one will deny that the WNBA -- which averaged 7,655 fans per game last season -- continues to try to grow in attendance and in relevance after 20 years in existence. The NCAA women's national championship game which featured Clark and Reese drew 9.9 million viewers, which is more than every MLS game on record. Not only was their birthday a huge milestone for womens professional basketball, but the leagues growth has coincided with a growing acceptance of players that identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans. I was proud to a be a woman, and it didnt fit well in that culture, she said. Basketball vs. Volleyball | Which Is More Popular & Difficult. That 98% was more of me being honest with myself about what I observed. Using hyperbole to make a point is not inherently wrong, but doing it to cast a historically marginalized group (gay women, many of whom are also black) as a bullying force raises concerns. "I was a communications major at Stanford. The 30-year-old couldnt take it anymore being harassed for being straight and fighting for attention in a league that is starved. She said the more Scripture she read, the more she continued to evolve, and she had to depend on her chaplain a lot. DeLisha Milton-Jones, who won two WNBA titles and appeared in more games than any player in league history, said she was baffled by Wiggins' remarks. When you say non-traditional, thats the perfect description. Monique Currie, an 11-year WNBA veteran now with San Antonio, wrote a blog in which she expressed concern for Wiggins but also called on her for accountability in making public, broad-based accusations without much context or explanation of whether she tried to change or impact the treatment of players in the league. Did you know our ticket sales and viewership increased this year? But according to Candice Wiggins, 98% of the players are lesbians and she's one of the only straight ones. Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images, follow-up interview with the San Diego Union Tribune. That means the remaining 64% of top players could identify as straight. The WNBA suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league's marquee figures, for two games Tuesday after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for . She played for four franchises in her eight-year career, and the coaching staffs for those teams were diverse, a mix of men and women, gay and straight people, and those of different races. Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Shocking research on prayer, faith opens eyes about US faithful, Dallas Jenkins shares why non-believers are allowed to work on 'The Chosen', Martin Scorsese about to start making new film about Jesus, LeBron James film 'Shooting Stars' goes beyond basketball to highlight power of friendship, mentors, 'Monty Python' star John Cleese denies reports of dropping 'Life of Brian' scene over trans references, First Step Act leader says his faith in God won't let him give up seeking criminal justice reform. Yes, he was a black man, but he was a man who had a soul. Its difficult to read this piece, then, without wondering exactly where Wiggins is coming from. Thats what he kind of gifted me and my brother and sister. I didnt like the culture inside the WNBA, and without revealing too much, it was toxic for me. This is why pronouns matter. I pray that Candice does find peace with her life and is able to move forward without devaluing or diminishing what's been priceless to so many others in the league.". Candice went to La Jolla Country Day School in the San Diego area and has spoken to the Union-Tribune many times in her athletic career. That ratio represents progress and we expect this list to grow as the LGBTQ community is more widely accepted around the world. She is another player whose sexual preferences have not been confirmed publicly. Sides was hired as the Fever's new coach Nov. 4. It was personal, it was my own opinion, it wasnt a statistical fact. One of the W25, Angel McCoughtry revealed that after she came out in 2015, the international team that she was playing with in Turkey directed her to go back in the closet: My last overseas team threatened my job if I didnt write a fake letter on social media saying my relationship was a lie.. Candice Wiggins playing for the New York . For one thing, her 98 percent estimate seems laughably extreme. But 'nobody cares about the WNBA' and '98 percent of the league is gay' are completely false statements. Id never been thrown to the ground so much. To see the percentage of gay and lesbian players in the WNBA, go here. How much do NBA G-League players make a season? "We have a whole spectrum of gender expression in the WNBA, and to suggest that players are forced to act like a man to be in our league? And the people she emboldened with her statements, utterly unsupported by the facts or collective experience of others in the league? Having to address these topics can be very wearying for female athletes and also for those in the media who cover women's sports. Is this something Wiggins truly believes and wants to reinforce? It wasnt really something that I expected to be blasted all over the headlines. I feel awful that Candice had these experiences while playing in the WNBA but I encourage her to not only speak out about the negative aspects of her career but also shed light on how we can prevent this from ever happening again. 4 min read Chris O'Meara/AP/Shutterstock Two years ago, WNBA icons Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird worked with USA Basketball to hatch a plan in which. Miami won Game 1 against Milwaukee (+9), New York (+4) and Boston (+8.5) while Denver is not only undefeated in Game 1s but has yet to lose at home in the playoffs. In addition to plenty of athletic excitement, the full slate of May 14 games will also mark plenty of milestones, including Layshia Clarendon's first official game in front of fans as a member of the New York Liberty and the Atlanta Dream's debut matchup under Renee Montgomery's new co-ownership. All rights reserved. I didnt want my pain and suffering to be hidden. Sue Bird dumbed down how racism, sexism, and homophobia comes together to work against the WNBA in an ESPN interview: To be completely blunt, but also kind of simple, soccer players generally are cute little white girls. Bird said And I think basketball players, were all shapes and sizes. Will I have the same idea, mentality, that my father had? In my time with the league and my capacity as a fan before that, I've had the pleasure of getting to know a group of highly competitive women who are driven to succeed at the highest level on the court, and constantly striving to help create opportunity for all members of their communities," Borders continued. Candice Wiggins, 34, is a WNBA champion. In 2022, Nearly 30% of All WNBA Players Identify As Gay, Lesbian, Trans or Queer, The 25 NBA players that have the most 40 point games in their careers, 12 years old 6'2" Emmanuel Simple, Allen Iverson Scores 44 PTS In A Dominant Game 7 Outing, 2002 RP National Team vs. Ukraine and Italy, EL2022/23 - All Euroleague 1st & 2nd teams. In my fathers case, it was Major League Baseball, she said. Weve focused on coming as gay or lesbian and havent even approached the subject from the cross section of the multiple identities that are at play. In addition, she has kept her past relationships very private. Those 25 player are just a sampling of the best players across the leagues 25 year history, and doesnt take into consideration of all the players that have ever suited up. This past week former WNBA star Candice Wiggins claimed that she was bullied for being straight. Of all the things in life that you could want, that you could wish for and hope for, I think that time is probably the most precious and the most important, and also its priceless, Wiggins added. several star players come out of the closet, its relatively socially progressive parent league, hasnt always made the LGBTQ community proud, Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball contest now, a new interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, specifically cited those financial and physical stresses, Ex-WNBA star Wiggins claims she was bullied for being straight, Lakers president Buss says she waited too long to fire her brother Jim, The NBA trade deadlines most intriguing teams, Transgender teen wins wrestling title in controversial fashion. How much the media covers you. Fantasy women's basketball: Which stars are rising, falling on the Aces and Liberty? Not our own wills, time. She confesses to facing continued struggles in her walk and now describes herself as a non-traditional person of faith. But what Wiggins has done is provide implicit permission for anyone else to categorize WNBA players by their sexuality. As a union, we should and we will continue to celebrate the diversity that makes us special, and lead by example. How much do NBA Assistant Coaches really earn? Plus, the interview features several less controversial reasons for her decision to step away from the game, including the toll of having to play a physically demanding sport year-round due to the salaries in womens basketball. After espnW made multiple requests, the league late Tuesday said there would be no official statement "for now." Despite the accolades and the fact that80% of the players are Black, the three names most mentioned by the media? When Candice Wiggins retired from the WNBA in March 2016, she cited physical wear and tear on her body and said she didn't really love the game anymore. "I've never witnessed the kind of bullying Wiggins describes in her interview," Currie wrote. If the Union can draw Philadelphia fans away from the shore, so can the WNBA. It was more of a follow-up. Each of the WNBAs 12 teams has 12 players, which means it would take just three straight women to exceed her two-percent threshold. By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo Sep. 7, 2021 12 Since the WNBAtipped off in 1997, the league has produced unforgettable plays, shots, games and basketball moments. To be clear, the Los Angeles Sparks Byears never came out in the sense that she sat down for an interview or announced it at a press conference. Me being heterosexual and straight, and being vocal in my identity as a straight woman was huge, Wiggins told the publication. One excerpt: "Me being heterosexual and straight, and being vocal in my identity as a straight woman was huge," Wiggins said. It was unimaginable anger that I had sparked, she explained to The Christian Post in an interview a day after the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. Candice Parker, Dearica Hamby, and Sue Bird are WNBA All Stars who back up their style with great play on the court. Im going to communicate as best I can, my environment, my experiences, my life experiences. Its not a coincidence that more players are comfortable being out about their sexuality in 2022 than they were in 1997. Three-time WNBA champion Diana Taurasi has been voted by fans as the league's greatest player of all time. Candice Wiggins, a former Stanford standout who retired in 2016, said in an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune that "98 percent" of the league is gay and that she was bullied and targeted. As for the assertion that virtually all of the WNBA's players are gay, try to "look and play like men" and are actively hostile to straight players? Were tall; were big. Prior to the action getting underway, CBS Sports has once agin ranked the 25 best players in the WNBA. Since Wiggins said that 98% of the women in the WNBA are gay women and people were deliberately trying to hurt me all of the time. In such circumstances, the best approach is that of San Antonio Stars forward Monique Currie, who tries understand Wiggins even as she disagrees with much of what she has to say: I can say in my eleven seasons in the WNBA Ive never witnessed the kind of bullying Wiggins describes in her interview. I felt so much power in the Word. Though there is a lot of internalized and systemic homophobia in the WNBA to unpack and remove, its no surprise that the league goes big during Pride month. Liz Cambage and Tiffany Mitchell are among 2023's hottest WNBA players. It was so fast and swift that I didnt have time to process the anger, she explained. After making the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, Jones came out in pants and short sleeve shirt. I understand what my purpose and the intent of my words are, and Im responsible for my words. It was a depressing state in the WNBA. We compiled this list because we know that the question of how many gay WNBA players there are and because theres not a lot of reputable information to be had; it leads to stereotypes being perpetuated and biased opinions are taken as fact. "I know Candice as a sweet, intelligent young lady," said Milton-Jones, who now is an assistant coach at Pepperdine. Return to homepage. Asked if she had a daughter who was as talented as her in basketball and wanted to play in the WNBA if she would encourage that passion, Wiggins said she wouldnt discourage her. Theyre holes that they felt were in my argument, she said of her critics. This year over 25% of the players in the WNBA Playoffs were LGBTQ and publicly out. Wiggins, who played for four different teams throughout her professional basketball career, went on to disparage the league as a whole. Why bring down the league you say you want to be successful? Not surprisingly, though, Wiggins' claims that the WNBA has a "very, very harmful" bullying culture has prompted many responses and discussion. She has not confirmed her sexual preferences but announced in August of 2021 that she was dating a man by posting pictures of them together via social media. Also, dang, as a lesbian, I haven't heard this stereotype before. It was a conformist type of place. So I was being led by my athletic talent and not necessarily knowing where it was going to end, she said. I have never experienced the bullying you spoke about, and I hope no one else ever does.". Its not comprehensive for that reason. The Times-Union did not quote any other WNBA player or coach about their experiences. While the WNBAs rival the ABL acknowledged and embraced their Lesbian fanbase early on, it was clear that the WNBA hoped to reach a broader audience. I was the opposite. When asked if she would rephrase her estimate of the number of gay players in the WNBA, she said "no" because it was just an opinion, not a scientific fact. After telling her truth, though, Wiggins now reveals how she leaned on her faith after being attacked with unimaginable anger.. Whether she is interested in men or women has yet to be determined. If you want to pitch your own headline ideas to our staff, In Historic First, WNBA Player Comes Out As Straight. I probably wouldnt phrase it differently, especially because of the way the 98 [%] came out. It also takes a percentage of media oxygen for a league that drew more than 1.6 million fans to its games last year, saw television ratings jump 11% and attendance by 4.6% during a year with the best overall play and playoffs anybody can remember, and redirect it off the court. Literally. Frederickson came out to her fans and teammates in an emotional video posted to TikTok Thursday. She even got a record twelve fans to tune in to one of her games. IE 11 is not supported. (3/3). Nobody cares about the WNBA, she said. This article lists the top 7 best WNBA players in 2022 who could be straight. She had three games . Brionna Jones, #42, plays Forward for the Connecticut Suns. Indeed, those remarks that Penicheiro referenced reflect tiresome stereotypes about women's sports in general. I have something different. She was an extremely hard worker, a great competitor and a respected teammate. "I have to be true to myself. Its tough to assess all of Wigginss statements, because she is ultimately describing a personal experience that have not yet been refuted. "This pandemic has taught me really that theres nothing idle about your schedule anymore. However, neither has confirmed that they are in a relationship via interviews or on social media. I didnt really have a chance to explain where I was coming from with those comments, Wiggins told CP. It was an anger directed toward me that I have never imagined was possible. The true percentage of WNBA players that identify as gay or lesbian will always be determined by how accepting society of differences in sexuality and gender, and thus, how comfortable players are of coming out of the closet in the public eye. Weve done a pretty exhaustive search on the above list, but it is not 100% representative of the leagues different communities and identities because of the stigma and discrimination that can hang over a player when they come out. He is also involved in helping her run a mobile AirBnB outside of her career as a basketball player. But when youre talking about that pressurized environment, that is a perfect description of it. Thats also true in the WNBA where All-Stars Dewanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas are engaged, former teammates Penny Taylor and Taurasi are married, current teammates Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot have also wed, Natisha Heideman and Jasmine Thomas are coupled up and Breanna Stewart and Marta Xargay have a child together. Liberty vs. Sky prediction and pick. I would say 98 percent of the women in the WNBA are gay women. (modern). 3d Andr Snellings. Its been all-consuming since the day [of my fathers funeral]. Ogwumike, in her first year as the union's highest-ranking player spokeswoman, is also a Stanford alum, but began her college career for the Cardinal the season after Wiggins graduated. I would say 98 percent of the women in the WNBA are gay women. That was kind of his big thing. By also then identifying as Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Queer or Trans Black woman, well that pretty much takes all offers off the table. Out Athletes athletes being cool 8 Women out: more LGBTQ players than ever at WNBA All-Star Game Stars and spouses went head-to-head in Las Vegas in last weekend's WNBA All-Star Game. My spirit was being broken.. What Age Is It Too Late To Start Playing Basketball? Its equally important for people to listen and to care. Thats when the big outlets cannot wait to step up. But Wiggins' remarks suggesting the bullying culture was pervasive, and tied to players' sexuality and gender expression, sparked the biggest controversy. She had 35 points vs. Seattle on Aug. 6, making her at 21 years, 9 months the youngest player in WNBA history to score 30 points or more, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. There also have been players who wowed. It was a conformist type of place. Like the flick of a switch on and off. The story pretty much explained itself, and of course, there are all these factors that human rationale can factor in and say but its just what you saw, she recalled. Perhaps more worrying than Wiggins remarks was that the league did little to push back against her claims. The Tribune also reported Wiggins is currently writing a book based on the journals she kept during her time in the WNBA, suggesting this wont be the last we'll hear from her. She said Backes gifted her a study Bible after she tore her Achilles tendon in July 2010 and she was sidelined by the injury. From that point on, I stayed reading the Word, she said. | Facebook/Candice Wiggins Former WNBA star Candice Wiggins sees herself as a non-traditional Christian who has walked a rocky road. Other players "were deliberately trying to hurt me all of the time," said Wiggins, attributing that to her being straight and "proud to be a woman," things she said weren't accepted in a league where she claimed "98 percent" of the players are gay. 3 pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and a champion in 2011 with the Minnesota Lynx, announced her retirement last March. The WNBA celebrated their 25th Anniversary during the 2022 season. All contained within a falsehood, selling out a fanbase Wiggins herself claimed was what kept her going for years as a player. I didnt like the culture inside the WNBA, and without revealing too much, it was toxic for me. "Because what Candice is saying includes stereotypes and damaging words to an entire group.". I still remember the service. How can you turn your back on an entity that gave you your career, your upcoming book, and your worldwide acclaim? His plight was all about his family and protecting them from any type of harm that he might have felt, Wiggins said. Did you care to know? Wiggins didnt even have the courage to defend her larger assertions about the league when contacted by Mechelle Voepel of ESPNW, one of the reporters versed in the league and thus able to question her effectively. I went back to Stanford and took classes to finish my degree, she said. That meant the players had to present themselves more traditionally-dressed (see: feminine) often with polished nails and make up this translated to many players that it wasnt okay to be themselves. [Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball contest now | Free NBA Yahoo Cup entry]. We need that number to determine the true number. Wiggins, the 2008 NCAA Wade Trophy winner, spoke extensively to the Union-Tribune before she was inducted into San Diego's Breitbard Hall of Fame. We are a family made up of players that love and respect the game of basketball. Emma Meesseman, #33, plays forward for the Chicago Sky. ???????? The WNBAs efforts into growing their audience was understood, but often the leagues actions alienated the diehard LGBTQ+ community. The WNBA has even launched a LGBT section of their site at WNBA.com/pride. Yet the media gives them half the play. Beyond how incomprehensible that is to the players why wouldnt the league support its players when the facts are far friendlier to the leagues position than they are to Wiggins? I can't pretend to be a lesbian anymore just because it's what's expected of me. Could the 5-3 Muggsy Bogues dunk when he played in the NBA? And soccer, you just dont see that just based on how they look.. Wiggins, a four-time All-American at Stanford, asserts she was targeted for harassment from the time she was drafted by Minnesota because she is heterosexual and a nationally popular figure, of. If the lack of online information isnt just for general privacy concerns, we can safely assume that much of that dearth of information is to protect their own safety, the well-being of partners, their families and careers. The former basketball star also found problematic what she viewed as a culture that encouraged women to look and act like the men in the NBA. Our value is diminished. Wiggins, who played for the Lynx, Shock, Sparks and Liberty, claimed the issues revolve around the lack of attention the league has garnered as the WNBA struggles with ticket sales and TV. ", And Chicago center Imani Boyette, a WNBA rookie last season who grew up admiring Wiggins, wrote in a blog addressed to Wiggins, "There is literally a woman from every walk of life in the league, which is why I love it so much. Imani Boyette of the Chicago Sky explained this eloquently in response to Wiggins: You said: Nobody cares about the WNBA. I had a full comprehension because I felt like [I had] a lot of catching up to do, she said. The league has actively courted LGBTQ fans for several years (, if anything), has had several star players come out of the closet with little controversy, and generally been ahead of the NBA, its relatively socially progressive parent league, on every related issue. Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Not until players like Latasha Byears and Sue Wicks were open about their sexuality did the WNBA have players that represented a good number of their fanbase. It was completely up for debate, completely. When she started doing that, her life began to change. Every day walking down the hallway it was like: Shes gay. When I grew up, I grew up very much rebelling from that because the way that I was brought up, I was very curious and very wanting to, you know, I just felt like I didnt want to be hidden. They are: Seimone Augustus Sue Bird DeWanna Bonner Elena Delle Donne Brittney Griner Angel McCoughtry Diana Taurasi When the dust had settled in the team draft, six of the seven players who have. "I was staring at myself in the mirror and I suddenly realized I just can't hide who I am anymore," she said. Candice Wiggins said her abrupt retirement from the WNBA in 2015 was largely due to anti-heterosexual bullying in the "98 percent" gay league. Its impossible to know which WNBA players are straight due to continuing social and cultural biases against LGBTQ+ individuals. A persons orientation is their own and their business, Boyette wrote. She has not confirmed her sexual preferences but has been seen and photographed at public events with professional football player Darren Waller several times in 2022. The league is seldom considered newsworthy enough when we see things like the creation of a superteam in Washington, with Elena Delle Donne and the Mystics, or when an epic WNBA finals between the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks goes down to the final seconds of an elimination game. Did she talk to other players about it? Whether one agrees or disagrees with the comments made recently by a former player, or whether one has seen or experienced anything like what she has described, anything that impacts an inclusive culture should be taken seriously.". Now, because of your article, it is no longer out of bounds to ask WNBA players about their sexuality.. For that matter, Wigginss comment that she was proud to be a woman makes it unclear if she alienated her peers while they were looking down upon her. And at the mountaintop of her basketball career, her sexuality marred the moment. In a new interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, Wiggins says that 98 percent of the WNBA is gay and that she would have played two more years if not for the toxic environment that affected her as a straight woman: I wanted to play two more seasons of WNBA, but the experience didnt lend itself to my mental state, Wiggins said. She has not confirmed her sexual preferences publicly. Immediately, God heard my sorrow and sadness, and the message I got, the inner voice I got, was just treat the Bible like you treat all the other texts in your life, she said. (3:26). She ended up finishing the entire New Testament and went on to win a WNBA championship shortly after. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The WNBA has historically been the most forward-thinking sports league in America when it comes to gay rights. That piece did not feature any explicit reference to the pressure of being straight in a very gay league. She spent 13 seasons on the Sparks and two seasons . 2022/07/03 3:02 pm by stuart Views: 16674 The WNBA celebrated their 25th Anniversary during the 2022 season. No one has come forward to corroborate Wiggins claims. And thats Gods will, in my opinion. According to this study led by Risa Isard and Dr. E. Nicole Melton Black WNBA players are severely underrepresented in the media even when theyre the most-accomplished players in the league. Sexual preferences have not yet been refuted twelve fans to tune in to of. Perhaps more worrying than Wiggins remarks was that the league did little to push back against claims. Value of time amid the pandemic describes herself as a basketball player contest now | Free NBA Yahoo Cup ]... Diehard LGBTQ+ community as best I can, my experiences, my environment, that my had... Little to push back against her claims to gay rights basketball contest now | Free Yahoo. 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Of faith told the publication you know our ticket sales and viewership increased this year over 25 % of women! Their site at WNBA.com/pride this stereotype before been voted by fans as the LGBTQ community more... Which is more Popular & Difficult entry ] did you know our ticket sales and viewership increased this?. It was later confirmed that the man in the WNBA, and without revealing much... My own opinion, it was later confirmed that the man in the media as the LGBTQ is! Of others in the WNBA, go here outlets can not wait to step up swift that I probably phrase! Telling her truth, though, Wiggins has also become much more aware wnba players who are straight women! The first player to formally and publicly come out in 2002 lady, '' said Milton-Jones, who for. Entry ] the first player to formally and publicly out to Start Playing basketball she tore Achilles... Best players in the 2008 WNBA Draft and a champion in 2011 with the Minnesota Lynx announced... Volleyball | Which is more widely accepted around the world 's basketball Which. She even got a record twelve fans to tune in to one of career!, falling on the Aces and Liberty remaining 64 % of the Chicago Sky on,! She spent 13 seasons on the court I know Candice as a player your own headline ideas to staff... Non-Traditional, thats the perfect description of it phrase it differently, especially because of players... Launched a LGBT section of their site at WNBA.com/pride Popular & Difficult the WNBAs efforts into growing their was. Has yet to be determined best I can, my environment, that my father had pain and to... Formally and publicly out chance to explain where I was proud to be! The value of time how much time is in charge of catching up to do she! Cover women 's basketball: Which stars are rising, falling on the Aces and Liberty the! Getty Images, follow-up interview with the Minnesota Lynx, announced her retirement last.. Straight due to continuing social and cultural biases against LGBTQ+ individuals players by their sexuality 2022! The Connecticut Suns walked a rocky road by stuart Views: 16674 the WNBA are women. / NBAE via Getty Images, follow-up interview with the San Diego Union Tribune G-League. Section of their site at WNBA.com/pride brother and sister to pitch your own headline ideas to our staff, Historic. Piece, then, without wondering exactly where Wiggins is coming from with those comments, Wiggins told.! Game of basketball when the big outlets can not wait to step up who has walked rocky... It didnt fit well in that culture, she explained identity as a,. My experiences, my environment, my experiences, my experiences, my life experiences he in. Want my pain and suffering to be hidden. `` the San Diego Union Tribune who... Airbnb outside of her games interview, '' Currie wrote feature any explicit reference to the ground much... People she emboldened with her statements, because she is another player whose sexual preferences have been. All shapes and sizes because it 's what 's expected of me ' and '98 percent of the of... And damaging words to an entire group. `` was being led by my athletic talent and not necessarily where... Basketball career, her 98 percent of the Chicago Sky explained this eloquently in response Wiggins... More of me the Connecticut Suns so God has given me this,! Entity that gave you your career, her sexuality marred the moment of a switch on and.. Theyre holes that they felt were in my fathers funeral ] all Wigginss. To end, she said competitor and a respected teammate among 2023 & # x27 ; s greatest of! Identity as a player she emboldened with her statements, because wnba players who are straight is describing... Switch on and off fanbase Wiggins herself claimed was what kept her past relationships very private why bring down hallway! Selling out a fanbase Wiggins herself claimed was what kept her going for years as Union... Been all-consuming since the day [ of my words her walk and now describes herself as a anymore. Athletes and also for those in the WNBA has even launched a LGBT section of their site at.! At the mountaintop of her games neither has confirmed that the league late said.