Commentary + Critique
In celebrating the WNBA’s 25th season, the league on Sunday (Sept. 5) revealed during halftime of the hotly-awaited matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and the Chicago Sky (ABC) “The W25” — or the 25 best players in the league’s storied history. Here are the players who made the exclusive list.
USA Basketball and the WNBA have worked hard for years to ensure the individual legacies of Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. Such unbridled devotion, however, has come at increasingly steeper costs in recent years — putting at risk the success of the teams they play for and denying other players the opportunity to chase their dreams. Seimone Augustus held this awareness of other players in mind when considering retirement. By putting “we” over “me,” she surrendered ego and greed, and humbly stepped aside. Is it time for other players who’ve already fulfilled their dreams to follow suit?
One-hundred and forty-four WNBA players entered a bubble in the coronavirus hotspot of Florida in 2020 engaged in a collective fight for social justice. Finally, we see the gravity of their sacrifices. From executive producer Chiney Ogwumike, ESPN Films and three other women filmmakers, “144” is a triumph of artistic and journalistic achievement.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been elected President and Vice President of the United States, respectively, and various figures in the WNBA (and beyond) couldn’t be happier.