Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is not one to hold his tongue on issues, as he shared his two cents about the inequality between the men's and women's basketball scene.
The three-time All-Star recently went on a lengthy Twitter tirade to air his side on the matter and tagged notable WNBA personalities Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Brittney Griner, Sue Bird, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Green began his rant by addressing the massive pay gap between the two professional leagues.
To all my Lady hoopers out there, I want to share some of my thoughts. @DianaTaurasi @Candace_Parker @brittneygriner @S10Bird @Nnemkadi30 @SkyDigg4 follow these next few tweets please.
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
I’ve been seeing a lot of talk about the pay gap between women and men. Especially in sports. It’s not even close. But let’s stop allowing y’all complaints to fall on deaf ears due to numbers. As long as y’all make the argument about pay, while the revenue stays the same…
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
They will continue to point at the revenue not being high enough to cover bigger salaries. While that is true in damn near every business, how do we take that card out of their pockets? That’s the key to changing the pay. There’s no argument for lack of revenue, unless…
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
The Warriors' outspoken forward made the case that the WNBA needs to first build a better platform that will allow its players to be known around the world. This includes an in-depth take about their personal stories, which would help build a bigger brand for the league's superstar players.
You make those that say they stand for women actually stand up. The NBA wasn’t always the global game that it is today. It wasn’t always driving as much revenue as it does today. But there were people behind it, building the platform, and more importantly telling INDIVIDUAL…
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
stories and building up the interest in the players. That’s how the game took off. Who’s building up y’all platform? Who’s telling the individual stories of how great y’all are? Building the interest and transforming women’s basketball into a global game?
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
Some may think it’s global because all the women go to overseas and play during the year, but the global response isn’t big enough. Having to go overseas should never be the case but because the stories aren’t told, especially here in the states, y’all hands are forced.
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
Draymond Green delved further into other issues, suggesting a stronger push to force big-time companies to commit to women's basketball and its players just like it does to the NBA.
I’ve been asked to do so many PSAs this month on women empowerment. I said no. It’s hypocritical. Because these same companies that are telling women empowerment are not putting their money where their mouth is. Call on this companies to support y’all. To infuse capitol into…
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
The business. Stop allowing them to yell women empowerment for the look. No company grows without funding. Y’all business can grow with the proper funding and story telling. Make these huge companies commit money to y’all cause. That’s empowering! Or don’t yell women empowerment
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
The Warriors forward also mentioned 19-year-old UConn phenom Paige Bueckers, and how her arrival could impact women's basketball in the coming years.
I can go on and on but would love to help drive these discussions with y’all. Lastly, if the goal is to become as big as the NBA, you have to push NBA like things. DT said Paige is the best player in basketball already. Why is there no discussion about her leaving this year?
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
Well a huge part of that is because the payoff isn’t as big. It’s not the norm. How do you change the norm and y’all keep doing the same thing? All these companies yelling women empowerment can easily endorse Paige to make up for the lack of payment in y’all league.
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
They can easily tell y’all stories. But they don’t have to because the request that are being made are falling on deaf ears because y’all keep saying pay me more, with no way to drive the revenue. Force hands! Paige number#1 pick 2021!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
Break the mold and change the game! Most importantly, change the BUSINESS. Call on these companies for support, after all they are using y’all to push WOMEN EMPOWERMENT , but not helping y’all. They’re simply saving face.
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 27, 2021
So far, only Sue Bird has responded to Green's tweet. While she lauded Green for recognizing the problem, the four-time WNBA champion said he tagged the wrong people.
👋🏼 @Money23Green read ur “thread” (@Jack help! 😜) The things ur saying are the EXACT things we’ve been fighting for. We don’t ask for NBA money, we point out the discrepancy to highlight the lack of investment & coverage. You got the problem right, you just tagged the wrong ppl https://t.co/H5wc706BfE
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) March 29, 2021
The discrepancies in men's and women's sports, especially in basketball, have been a hot topic for debate for quite some time. Unflattering photos of the women's weight lifting room inside the March Madness NCAA bubble only stirred the pot even more.
There's still a long way to go for women's basketball to receive the support they truly deserve, but they certainly have an ally in Warriors star Draymond Green.
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