WNBA legend Candace Parker said the league has reached a point where personalities and the league itself should be open to mature criticism from the media without it turning into personal attacks.
Parker, who recently drew backlash for her analysis that downplayed specific plays by young stars Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, said criticism is necessary for the league’s growth and that media should be able to evaluate the game critically as it continues to evolve.
“I think to move the game forward, there’s got to be critique,” she said in the latest episode of her “Post Moves” podcast with Aliyah Boston.
She added that women covering sports in the media have long felt the responsibility to promote and elevate the game, and quoting James Baldwin, she noted that something deeply loved should also be open to criticism.
“I think I love women’s basketball so much, and all of us do. So we have the right to critique it — not demoralize it, not diminish it, but actually say what’s going on and be honest and be real and have those conversations and have those debates.
“I think it’s great we can disagree. … I think it’s also the fans within women’s sports that need to understand that when people are not attacking character but actually flaws in the game and things like that, let’s not call that hate.”
What Has Candace Parker Said About Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers?
Candace Parker has offered candid evaluations of both Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers.
Last year, Parker placed Reese in her C-tier ranking, though she later clarified that she does not dislike Reese and believes in her potential, saying (per CBS Sports):
“Can she get to player A, or player S, or whatever? Yes, she can. Right now, I don’t know if she’s alongside those players. And you’re measuring her against players that have been in the league for years.
“There’s no hate on Angel Reese. I love her. She plays for the Chicago Sky. I saw her at my jersey retirement vs. LA. So it’s nothing like that. I think it’s so interesting in this female space, the need to have to explain some of these things.”
Meanwhile, regarding Bueckers, Parker said she is not ready to label her a two-way player yet.
“Not a two-way player yet! She’s plating a little defense,” Parker said. “I didn’t say she can’t be in the two-way conversation . … You threw her into the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George conversation. I’m like, slow your roll.”
Parker is widely regarded as one of basketball’s greatest players. She won three WNBA championships with three different teams, two WNBA MVP awards in 2008 and 2013, and two Olympic gold medals. She was also named Rookie of the Year and league MVP in 2008, Finals MVP in 2016, and Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
