Male journalists continue to show ignorance, disrespect for the WNBA

The GIST: The WNBA is more popular than ever — which means we’re getting more lame takes from men too ignorant to learn the game. NBA writer Ethan Strauss and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons are the latest male journalists to join the list, but they’re drowned out by a women’s basketball community that’s bigger than ever. Join the club or GTFO.

The examples: Strauss joined Simmons on his podcast this Wednesday to discuss Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, which took a wild turn when Strauss suggested the Fever rename itself “W Pacers,” implying it’s difficult to remember 12 WNBA team names. “Why force people to learn about the Fever?” Strauss asked, which caused the Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun to fire back.

• And after Indianapolis Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel uncomfortably pressured Clark to treat him favorably — an inappropriate exchange many pointed out never happens to male athletes — Doyel was removed from the Clark beat and suspended for two weeks.

The problem: This is business as usual for Simmons, who declared almost 20 years ago that the WNBA wasn’t marketable to (male) fans because players lack “crossover sex appeal.” And Strauss’ belief that “maybe there’s still time” to undo the years and millions of dollars invested into existing W branding just shows his ignorance on brand value.

• The worst part is the platforms and influence these individuals have: Doyel is a longtime IndyStar columnist, Strauss covers a market that will soon have a WNBA team, while Simmons built his platform with homogenous, primarily male voices that have unfortunately influenced a generation of sports fans.

Zooming out: Women are often held to unfair expectations when covering men’s sports, yet these male journalists balk at doing the bare minimum. For once, men’s sports aren’t always the center of the conversation, and that seems to bother some who are suddenly out of their element. Welcome to our world, fellas — it’s why we’re trying to create a better one.