it's wnbGAY season

your sports-related reading for the week

I’m getting married this week so if things are a little quiet, that’s why. If you want to get me and Will a wedding gift, a paid subscription to this newsletter is a great one, just saying.

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Before we get into this week’s reading, some self-promotion for you. First of all, I was honored by SLAM Magazine as one of the the WNBA journalists growing the game and that was very cool to see. There are some great people to follow on that list so I definitely recommend you check it out.

Also, I published a good deal of content this week at this newsletter that I’m proud of. As I continue to struggle having freelance pitches accepted in this dying industry, I plan to keep growing this space. Upgrading to a paid subscription can help me do that, but even just sharing and engaging with my work helps a lot.

• I wrote about how anti-trans rhetoric, including content being promoted by Substack, contributes to violence against trans women athletes—including original reporting about the death threats received by pro disc golfer Natalie Ryan

• I tackled why the WNBA’s new Skims campaign missed the mark when it comes to the gender diversity of its league, and how this is an ongoing issue despite reassurances that there has been growth regarding the marketing strategy

• I wrote about the WNBA’s pregnancy discrimination problem, why it may be the thing that leads to the players opting out of their CBA at the end of the season, including exclusive access to never-published research that looks at the post-baby performance of W players

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Sports-related reading

I have a lot of good reading and fun content for you this week so buckle up.

• Karim Zidan
  breaks down the FIFA hypocrisy on display as the governing body defers Palestinian motion to bar Israel

• For new WNBA fans, Autostraddle has this 101 breakdown to help you get into the action and

  Matt Ellentuck
  can help you pick which team to root for.

• The name and branding for the new Bay Area WNBA team was unveiled this week. The Golden State Valkyries are coming in 2025 and between the lavender color way, naming the team after a badass myth and a bisexual Marvel character played by queer actress Tessa Thompson, and the promo reel voiced by Kehlani, it’s clear the team knows their audience. That’s A+ branding if I’ve ever seen it.

togethxr

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via X

• A New York state Supreme Court judge ruled Friday that a Nassau County ban that stopped teams with trans athletes from using county athletic facilities is against the law.

• A Trans Indigenous Athlete Discusses the Significance of Playing Sports on Stolen Land

alexasearth

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• Some gay WNBA stats from the week: