Opinion: A Commentary on Women's Sports
Opinion: A Commentary on Women's Sports
Before you read this I want you to know a few things about me.
When I got my first teaching job in the late 90’s I was asked to coach a girls’ basketball team. I had always wanted to coach. And to be honest that’s one of the reasons I went into teaching. But, girls?
My only experience in sports up until that point had been playing and coaching boys’ sports.
I was hesitant to say the least. But it was the only coaching spot available. I figured it would just be a one year thing and I would eventually move on to coaching boys sports.
I spent the next 20 years coaching girls and it was one of the best things to ever happen to me. Every school year I coached a girls basketball team in the winter and a girls softball team in the spring. In addition, I coached girls summer softball teams and a few traveling/AAU girls basketball teams too.
I did coach a few boys teams here and there, but looking back on my experience, I would argue that coaching girls was way more fun, and easier than coaching boys. (Some of my former boys players follow this account so don’t tell them I said that. 😉)
I have many great memories of that time period. Legendary victories, team parties, senior banquets, and especially the relationships with the athletes and their families. But there is one memory that sticks with me to this day.
For many years (well before I started teaching) our school held an annual basketball game that featured the outgoing 8th grade boys vs the male teachers. It was always well attended and one of the highlights of every school year.
I don’t remember the exact year, but during one particular season, one of my female players asked me, “Why do the boys get to play in a game like that …and we don’t?”
It hit me like a thunder bolt. It had never even occurred to me and I felt terrible.
From that point on, every year, we held a game between the 8th grade boys and male staff, AND a game between the 8th grade girls and the female staff.
When I stepped away from coaching, I estimated that I had coached over 50 teams, and nearly 700 female athletes during that time.
About that same time, I started this “WHENESOTA” writing bit and I became very active with it on social media. Sometimes too active.
One of the things I am passionate about on social media is women’s sports. I devote quite a bit of my feed to them because I truly enjoy watching our women’s teams.
Minnesotans are extremely lucky to have all the successful women’s teams that we do. I’m an avid fan of the Minnesota Vixen football team. I write game summaries and submit them to the newspapers every week. I watch almost every Minnesota Lynx game. I’m a “community owner” of the Minnesota Aurora, and I try to catch the Minnesota Frost games on TV when I can. I’m also one of the most vocal complainers when Gopher women’s hockey is buried on the Big Ten + channel because I feel it’s not equitable and hurtful to women’s sports.
Recently I wrote a story about the Minnesota Millerettes, a women’s professional baseball team in 1944. That story won an award from the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists.
So why am I telling you all this?
Because what you are about to read may come off as a bit controversial. And when I’ve tried to bring it up in the past, I’ve been told,
“You don’t understand women’s sports.”
“You must not watch any of the games.”
“You don’t know anything about basketball.”
I admit it. I’m a male. Not much I can do about that.
Have I ever felt discrimination like female athletes do? No.
But does that mean I’m not allowed to have an opinion about women’s sports?
Sometimes it seems there are “gatekeepers” who think its their place to decide who is allowed to comment on a subject. But it seems to me that there may be even more of that when it comes to women’s sports.
In my opinion, it’s a bit of a double standard.
Clark vs Reese
Most sports fans have heard about the “feud” between Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky. And if you’ve heard of it, you likely have an opinion on it.
The two players have had a bit of a history dating back to their college days and it’s continued into their professional careers in the WNBA. There have been words exchanged and times it has gotten physical.
It seems to me that those stoking the fires of the “feud” are extremely partisan. There are two distinct sides. Most folks are either Team Clark, or Team Reese. Those that are on Team Clark, are often anti Team Reese and vice versa.
It’s no surprise that the online and social media slander to both players is biased at best, racist at worst, and like everything else in today's society, extremely divisive. Why can't we enjoy and respect both players?
However, this story isn't about the Clark vs Reese debate, but it is very much related to it.
In the 2024 WNBA draft, the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark at #1 overall. The Minnesota Lynx held the #7 overall pick in that draft, and Angel Reese was projected to be available at #7. However, the day before the draft the Lynx traded back one spot with the Chicago Sky. The Sky drafted Angel Reese at #7. The Lynx then selected Alyssa Pili, a forward from Utah, at #8. In exchange, the Lynx received a 2nd round 2025 pick and the right to swap first round picks with the Sky in 2026.
Immediately, I questioned the move, “Why are we trading back?”
At first I was told by those in the know that there was a lot of drama that came with drafting Angel Reese and because of that she would not be a great fit with Cheryl Reeve, the coach and GM of the Minnesota Lynx.
Similar things were said about Randy Moss. But Ok, I can accept that. As a former coach, I’m well aware that personality clashes can be disastrous to team culture and chemistry.
But if that is the case and you’re passing on a player that could potentially be a generational talent, then you need to get more than we did in return.
In addition to not fitting in chemistry wise I was also told that Angel Reese wouldn’t get any minutes here. She plays forward. Midway through the 2024 season the Lynx traded for veteran forward Myisha Hines-Allen who averaged almost 18 minutes per game for the Lynx the rest of that season. Meanwhile Alyssa Pili barely saw the floor.
When I’ve brought up these points in the past, the responses have been unusually “protective”.
By “protective” I mean biased.
It’s nothing new for fans of Minnesota sports teams to be “protective” I would offer certain Twins fans and media as an example here, but that’s an entirely different rant for a different time.
Not only are those responses to my Lynx query protective and biased, they’re often shaming, and personal, attempting to assault my credibility to have an opinion.
“You don’t understand women’s sports”
“You must not watch any of the games”
“You don’t know anything about basketball”
Fast forward to July 12, 2025. The Minnesota Lynx lose to the Chicago Sky 87-81. Angel Reese had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Alyssa Pili didn’t play.
After the game the Lynx released Alyssa Pili.
When a team releases a first round draft pick midway through their second year it’s a clear admission that it wasn’t a good pick.
Does this mean Cheryl Reeve is a bad Coach/GM? Of course not. She’s one of the best coaches in the WNBA and has won four championships, Olympic gold, etc. etc. etc. The Lynx have the best record in the league right now and were in the Finals again last year. She clearly has a great track record for building winning teams.
But…..EVERY GM in EVERY sport makes a bad pick or trade. They ALL do. It just seems to happen more spectacularly here in Minnesota than other places. (See Herschel Walker trade and David Kahn passing on Steph Curry…twice).
As a matter of fact, I don’t think there exists a team in the entire history of sports that has had every draft pick turn out. It’s impossible. Every draft is a crapshoot and hindsight is always 20/20.
Having said that….It’s ok to say it was a bad draft pick. Your Lynx fan card will not be revoked.
The Double Standard
At this point it’s not even about the players or stats anymore. To me, it’s become more about not being allowed to have the conversation. There is an immediate visceral reaction to anyone having the gall to dare criticize the pick. There were people STILL defending it after Pili was released yesterday.
I think there are a few reasons for it:
1. I think the Angel Reese hate is real. Most of it is unfair, and some of that hate comes off as racist.
2. Minnesotans are very protective of our teams. Sometimes too protective, in my opinion. (Again, I offer the Twins as an example)
3. I also think, and I’m probably stepping in it by saying this, that some of the over protectiveness is because it’s a women’s sport. It is my opinion that some folks don’t think that women’s sports should be criticized like we criticize men’s sports.
Admittedly I have no proof or facts to support that. It’s a feeling I get from my experience and perspective.
There is no doubt women’s sports have come a long way. I can still remember when girls weren’t allowed to play sports.
Anyone remember “Ringette”? It was a ice sport for girls, because girls weren’t allowed to play hockey at the time.
Just the fact that the Clark vs Reese debate is a headliner on Sportscenter shows how far women’s sports have come. But there is some baggage that often comes with that popularity and exposure. If we want women’s sports to be treated equally, that should include not only the accolades, but also the criticism that goes along with professional sports and the attention they garner. And we need to stop pretending that women can’t handle it.
Admittedly, this story isn’t over. There is still the 2026 pick swap pending. If the Lynx swap picks with Chicago and get a player that is better than Angel Reese, you have my word, I will apologize publicly.
But if you think my criticism is unfair and you feel bad for Alyssa Pili because of what I have said here, ask yourself if you'd feel the same if it was a men's player.