{"id":44209,"date":"2025-05-09T08:43:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T12:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=44209"},"modified":"2025-05-09T08:43:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T12:43:08","slug":"paige-buckers-is-a-white-dallas-wing-and-a-proud-black-advocate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/05\/paige-buckers-is-a-white-dallas-wing-and-a-proud-black-advocate.html","title":{"rendered":"Paige Buckers is a White Dallas Wing and a Proud Black Advocate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gamecock Central \/ Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paige Bueckers, the 2025 first-overall pick in the WNBA Draft, makes strong headlines for something other than her fascinating ability to get to the hoop. Despite who she is or where she comes from, Bueckers\u2019 passion for standing up for equality in her industry is something to behold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>a recent <\/span>Time <\/span><\/i>magazine article<\/span><\/a>, the Dallas Wings\u2019 rookie speaks eloquently and feverishly about \u201cwhite privilege.\u201d A girl growing up in Hopkins, Minnesota, Bueckers has no problem telling people her idols as a child, mainly Black superstars in the game. Yet, she believes they remain lesser known than they should be because of the media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s [Underrepresentation and incongruent sponsorships] still an issue every single day,\u201d she said in the May 5 article. \u201cThere\u2019s not ever equal coverage. There\u2019s white privilege every single day that I see. I feel like I\u2019ve worked extremely hard and am blessed by God. But I do think there are more opportunities for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bueckers is a national champion with UConn, where she averaged 19.8 PPG, shooting 53 percent field goals and 42 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. <\/span>Time <\/span><\/i>noted Nike, Uber, and Gatorade already signed her in college. She was the <\/span>first Nike NIL athlete to play in her own sneakers<\/span><\/a>. Thanks to sponsorships, she will make $350,000 next season\u2014more than what the Dallas Wings will pay her in four years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like even just marketability, people tend to favor white people, white males, white women,\u201d she continued. \u201cI think it should be equal opportunity. I feel like there is privilege to what I have and to what all white people have. I recognize that I want to counteract that with the way I go about my business.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her comments reflect what another White WNBA supernova<\/span> said on David Letterman\u2019s Netflix show<\/span><\/a>, \u201cMy Next Guest Needs No Introduction,\u201d Caitlyn Clark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely have privilege,\u201d the Indiana Fever point guard said. \u201cA lot of Black women that grew up making this league what it is…And they deserve all the credit; thee more we can give credit to them, the better. I\u2019m very aware of that, and I know that, and I think there is responsibility for acknowledging that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaige Buckets\u201d is consistent. At the 2021 ESPYs, where she was awarded Best Female College Athlete, she gave a stirring speech that took her spotlight and focused directly on the issue she feels needs to be addressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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WNBA player Paige Bueckers:<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a white woman who leads a black led sport\u2026I want to shed a light on black women. They don\u2019t get the media coverage they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

pic.twitter.com\/QHLt0Ty4NU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n