It is time to start respecting women’s sports

On April 17, many people watched the 2020 WNBA Draft on ESPN. University of Oregon point guard Sabrina Ionescu was selected as the number one draft pick by the New York Liberty.

Ionescu left Oregon as one of the most decorated players in college basketball history. She remains the only player in women’s and men’s basketball history to r e c o r d 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in a career.

Ionescu led the Ducks to three Pac-12 conference championships. Other awards earned by Ionescu include the 2020 Naismith Award (given to the best player in college basketball), the Associated Press Player of the Year and she holds the record for the most triple doubles in women’s college basketball.

After the draft, I happened to check my Twitter and Instagram accounts. It stunned me to see the crazy, rude and degrading remarks people had posted about Ionescu.

People were displaying complete ignorance through comments like, “She’d look better cooking in the kitchen” and “Too bad nobody cares about women’s sports.”

As I digested the ignorance, it disappointed me how grown men felt the need to voice such nonsense on a 22-year-old young lady’s page. Then I realized, it’s just the world we live in now.

Many men and women hiding behind computer screens and saying whatever stupidity comes into their puny heads has become the new normal.

Ionescu has become the latest version of women’s sports being discredited.

Another recent example, occurred when the US Women’s National Soccer Team filed a gender-discrimination lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation for equal pay.

Although the women’s team has won back-to-back World Cup Championships and has racked up more success than the US Men’s Soccer team by a wide margin, compensation for the women’s team amounts to two-thirds less than what the men’s team earns.

They are pop culture juggernauts and have garnered support from celebrities, politicians and athletes in other sports.

Another example of women being discriminated against happened in 2007 with the Williams sisters in tennis. Venus and Serena Williams are the biggest stars in the sport of tennis; however, the two were making much less than their male counterparts. Wimbledon closed its pay gap in 2007, and the Williams sisters remain fierce advocates for equal pay.

While I don’t consider myself a feminist, it’s irritating to me to hear men talk down on a sport just because women are playing it.

These women have dedicated their entire lives to perfecting their skills in their sport. They deserve respect as professional athletes.

They are doing better in life than the people who are trolling them and getting paid to do what they love.

Detroit Pistons Legend and current WNBA head coach Bill Laimbeer appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” a few days ago. When asked about how he changed his approach going into the WNBA, he had the perfect response.

“They’re all professional athletes,” Laimbeer said. “I don’t see it as men vs. women. They are at the highest level that can be obtained in basketball. I still demand their best as I did when I played in the NBA.”

Whether you enjoy watching women’s sports or not, we must respect the fact that they are professionals and the best at what they do.

To people who troll and post rude remarks about these young women, just remember that you wouldn’t want anyone talking to your wife, mother, sister or daughter in that manner. Remember they can beat you in a game of 1-on-1, so tread lightly when calling them out.

Trolling female athletes doesn’t make you look strong or more masculine. If anything, it makes you look insecure about yourself.

To all the young female athletes, please remember you are strong, gifted and you can do anything you set your mind to do. No matter what type of hate may come your way, continue to work hard and never give up.