The WNBA has always had a reputation for being one of the more progressive sports leagues in the United States—and a new study released concerning how the league ensures diversity in its hiring practices is another sign of that.
The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES) released its report card and gave the WNBA an A-plus overall. It received an A-plus for its hiring practices based on race and an A for gender—allowing the league to accumulate a total of 95.5 points.
Dr. Richard Lapchick at the University of Central Florida mentioned that a major reason for it’s A-plus rating was current president Lisa Borders being tapped for the position after the departure of former president Laurel Richie.
The Los Angeles Sparks, who won this year’s WNBA championship, are seen as a big reason for this given it has an African-American team owner in Magic Johnson.
While the WNBA can take solace in what much of the report said, there were some weak spots mentioned in the report.
The league earned a D-plus for the percentage of women holding senior team administrator positions (24 percent) and for women holding team vice president positions (27 percent)—earning a C.
Bright spots for the WNBA included the amount of women holding assistant coach positions (nearly 57 percent) and team professional administration positions as well as people of color holding team professional administration positions (33 percent).
(Original Story: ESPNW)
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
