Social activism from the Florida wubble to the streets of Minneapolis, Atlanta and lots of other places defined the WNBA’s place as having an imprint on the year that was 2020.
And of course, the president noticed and was pleased to see how athletes used their voices and influence to affect social change.
Of course, we’re talking about this one.
President Barack Obama recently joined Bill Simmons on his podcast and was asked about how the women of the W really set the tone for 2020 being the year of activism it was.
It was no surprise, says 44.
Let’s stipulate women, generally, are superior to men. And women athletes are no different. It was interesting. There was such a contrast when you had the men’s teams, championship teams, come and the women’s teams come. The guys were all nice, but a lot of them would just kinda mumble the same way that all of probably did if we were 21 or 22 and showed up at the White House. And the women, they would be articulate and engaged and ask these policy questions.
–President Barack Obama (Bill Simmons podcast)
Obama then shifted the conversation to Maya Moore, who has not played the last two seasons to focus on getting Jonathan Irons’ 50-year prison sentence for a crime he did not commit overturned. Moore was successful in that mission this year – and then announced she and Irons got married.
Her investment to the degree where she actually left basketball because she cared so deeply about it was impressive, and not surprising. And it’s … an example of where a law really did make a difference. I mean, Title IX really changed the landscape for sports and those of us who have daughters and see how valuable it is to have women have the same opportunities to compete and excel on the field or on the court and the confidence it gives them and their ability to translate that success later in life … it was a really big deal.
–President Barack Obama (Bill Simmons podcast)
