US soccer legend Megan Rapinoe has launched a scathing attack on legacy WNBA media following Azzi Fudd being questioned about her relationship with new teammate Paige Bueckers. Fudd was drafted No 1 overall by the Dallas Wings earlier this month, securing a spot alongside her girlfriend Bueckers, who was a top pick last year.
The Wings' media team have shut down reporters' questions about their off-court romance since the draft, and Rapinoe has now hit out at the media's questioning, even demanding that reporters be replaced. Rapinoe made her comments on the latest episode of her 'A Touch More' podcast, which she hosted alongside her longtime girlfriend Sue Bird until their recent split.
She began her solo rant by calling WNBA media members 'inherently sexist, racist, and misogynistic', calling for more diversity among reporters. 'I do think we are watching legacy or establishment media come in and sort of do business as usual and it just feels like it needs more understanding and nuance,' she said.
Rapinoe's call for change
Rapinoe then offered a solution, claiming that black and queer culture needs to be factored into the hiring process by media companies. 'How do we collectively protect and craft the future of this space as the people who care about what the WNBA has built and enjoy the culture that it brings?' she asked. 'Because, let's be honest, the reason why the WNBA is out front in culture is because of how rooted it is in black and queer culture and around equality for women and progress in all of those realms.'
Rather than hard-hitting questions to players, Rapinoe suggests specially-hired PR teams 'have an imagination around how to give these players media platforms that work for them.' She claims a new wave of reporters should create 'talking points that protect' female basketball players while 'also allowing them to be out and proud and not make them feel unsafe.'
Personal life in the spotlight
Rapinoe's bold stance comes just days after she announced her split from former WNBA star Sue Bird after almost 10 years together. The sporting power couple first met backstage at a photoshoot for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Both gold medal winners in their respective sports, they got engaged in October 2020 but never tied the knot. They confirmed their separation in a statement, insisting it had not been an 'easy decision.' 'There really is no smooth or easy way to share this news. After a lot of thought, we've made the decision to separate as a couple,' the statement read. 'This hasn't been an easy decision, but it's one we've made together, with so much love, respect, and care for each other. We've shared a whole life over the last decade, through big moments and in quiet ones, and that is something we'll always carry with us.'
