Sue Bird On Draymond Green: Focusing Conversation Of Women’s Equal Pay Around Revenue Is Easy Way Out
Apr 9, 2021, 12:56 PM | Updated: 12:58 pm
PALMETTO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 06: Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm looks back while holding the WNBA Championship trophy after defeating the Las Vegas Aces 92-59 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Feld Entertainment Center on October 06, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – WNBA superstar and Olympian Sue Bird weighed in on recent comments made by Draymond Green about women’s sports and equal pay.
Green posted a series of tweets about the pay gap between men’s and women’s sports.
“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…,” read the first tweet.
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
He continued his musings wondering about ways to close the pay gap or get more coverage for women’s sport (more of the tweets posted below).
Bird says it is not as simple as just the revenue conversation and that jumping to revenue is a simple way out.
“When it comes to Draymond, to be honest, he does have a platform and I think he has every chance to get in the nuance of this conversation because a lot of these conversations around the sport live in the nuance. They are nuanced topics and there’s a reason why. The investment is belated. The media coverage is belated. It’s not as simple as ‘oh, they don’t have the revenue.'”, Bird said during a pre-Olympic media day.
View this post on Instagram
The fight for women’s equal pay and coverage in sports is front and center right now. Being led by athletes like Megan Rapinoe and Bird. Rapinoe is a leading voice in the legal battle for the USWNT to receive equal pay benefits.
“That’s frustrating that’s the take you (Green) have … WNBA players and us on the national team. Like what Sue [Bird] said, you tagged the wrong people. You don’t think we asked for more money? I mean, what are we screaming about? Nonstop! We are getting obnoxious to ourselves, to be honest. And then two or three days later, to completely double down on it is really frustrating,” said Rapinoe.
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
Bird was originally asked about the traction women’s sports have seemingly gained over the past few months with the Women’s NCAA viral success, but while the ratings showed growth, the inequalities between men and women’s sports were under a spotlight when players showed the differences in amenities.
“I think the world, America, our country is catching up to us. We’ve already been here. We’ve already been doing the basketball thing. We’ve already had that product. It’s already been what it is, which is great. I think from just the thing we stand for in terms of social justice. We’ve already been doing this. I think that’s what I mean when I say the country is just seeing it now,” Bird elaborated.
In Green’s original tweet he tagged female athletes, seemingly trying to start a conversation.
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
“It’s unfortunate he didn’t have the conversations to understand the nuance … And I see his point, his point is, ‘why is company x going to be able to capitalize on talking about women during women’s history month but not put their money where their mouth is and support women sports’,” Bird explained, “To his point he tagged people, he should have been tagging companies. Having conversations with the companies that endorsed him. That’s really my take on it.”
Following the criticism from Rapinoe Green addressed the situation in a press conference on Thursday evening. Bird’s comments referenced in this story were made on Friday morning.
