Dwyane Wade and Anthony Davis are the most recent NBA stars to voice help for the WNBA.
Wade and Davis, who returned to Chicago this weekend for his or her respective youth basketball camps, sat courtside at Wintrust Arena for the Sky’s recreation towards the Fever Sunday.
Wade, who was with an entourage that included his mom, JoLinda, was cheering on the Sky from his seats at middle courtroom. Meanwhile, Davis was sitting on the baseline and was joined by a number of younger basketball gamers, who gained tickets to the sport after profitable a scrimmage Friday at his Nike Rise Camp at Kenwood Academy High School.
“I love watching basketball, my family is a basketball family and I thought it would be a cool thing for the kids to come in and watch the game of basketball as well from a different perspective,” Davis mentioned Friday. “I’m not even sure most of these kids have ever seen a WNBA game before.”
Over the previous couple of years, an increasing number of NBA gamers have made it a degree to help their feminine counterparts. This season, Bulls middle Wendell Carter Jr. has attended three Sky video games. Jabari Parker has additionally come to a recreation.
“A lot of NBA players are supportive of WNBA players,” Wade mentioned. “We love basketball. It’s some great basketball that’s played in the WNBA, just as well as the NBA and just as well overseas. I always say some of the game’s best players are WNBA players.”
Wade and Davis consider it’s essential for NBA gamers to point out outward help for the WNBA.
“We want to see it grow,” Wade mentioned. “We want to see it get there. It’s been 20 years. It’s been too long. Hopefully, the wave is coming in the time that we are. “Time’s up”, “Me Too” — all this stuff. It’s time for our WNBA girls to get their simply due and their recognition.”
Said Davis: “All the women are there for a reason, they’re professional athletes. Anybody who can make it to the WNBA and the NBA is there for a reason.”
Wade mentioned he’s at all times been a supporter of equality. But his perspective has modified much more since him and his spouse, Gabrielle Union, had a daughter in December.
“When you have a daughter who loves sports and grew up around it, they may want to be on this stage one day,” Wade mentioned. “Hopefully, the game grows bigger. If my daughter wants to play here, by the time she gets here, hopefully, they’re selling out every night in every arena.”
Contributing: Khobi Price