ONTD Original: Hey There, Gay Sports Fans! Let's Meet 10 Black Gay Players in the WNBA.
Since the WNBA has been receiving a lot of press lately because of the incoming NCAA players, which has caused a lot of controversy, I thought I'd make a little something for the ladies, theydies, and gaydies of ONTD. The WNBA has historically been a very gay, very Black, league that undersells their talented Black players to push white players like Kelsey Plum (my nemesis), Breanna Stewart (gay), Sue Bird (gay), and Sabrina Ionsecu (the victim of endless last name mispronunciations). No shade. These players are all legends in their own right, or on the way to being legends in the league.
Let's pick on Ionescu who recently competed against Steph Curry in a three-point shooting competition during the MNBA All-Star weekend. She scored the same or better than all of the male basketball players. Ionescu is undoubtedly deserving of her place--she played for the Oregon Ducks and holds the college record for triple doubles--but she also has a close relationship with the Bryant family and is a white Christian. Being white, straight, and a Christian has led to Ionescu receiving more press. None of this is a secret; if you're interested in the disparities between the coverage white and Black players receive, check out this article by the NYT.
Basically, the WNBA has the same problem that Black sports fans have been pointing out with NCAA coverage this college season; mostly Black athletes make up the league, but mostly white athletes receive media coverage. The Black women in the WNBA are fashionable af, and also still manage to crush athletically wearing long nails, heavy-ass braids, and fake eyelashes. The WNBA Players Association and the individual players are very vocal about politics.
The 2024 WNBA Draft took place last night on ESPN (in the US), so the discourse is going to continue to discourse. FYI League Pass is $34.99, cheaper than streaming services that will cancel gay TV shows after ten episodes. The first pre-season game takes place May 3, 2024 between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings (let's go Wings!).
Let's Meet 10 of the 34*(/144) Out Gay Players in the WNBA.
*35 if draftee Dyaisha Fair makes it through training camp
https://instagram.com/p/C5ltp2ZLlkA
AD Durr (they/them) was drafted to the NY Liberty, 2nd overall, in the 2019 draft. They played for the Louisville Cardinals in college. They currently play for the Atlanta Dream. Durr does not use the term non-binary, but they are the second player in the WNBA to use pronouns other than she/her. Catch Durr and the Atlanta Dream in their first preseason game on May 4th, 2024 against the Washington Mystics. Durr married their wife 6 months ago.
https://instagram.com/p/Cu9eKVZuYDL
Alyssa Thomas (she/her) was drafted to the NY Liberty, 4th overall, but was immediately traded to the Connecticut Sun, where she still plays. Thomas played for the University of Maryland in college. Thomas is a defensive force in the WNBA. She is also a 4x All-Star. AT is engaged to her Sun teammate DeWanna Bonner.
https://instagram.com/p/C4qvOptv2hO
Courtney Williams (she/her) was drafted eighth overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2016. Williams was traded to the Connecticut Sun in the 2016 season. Williams then moved to the Atlanta Dream, but was released from her contract after she got into a public fight. She has since played for the Sun and the Chicago Sky. She has signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Lynx beginning in the 2024 season. Williams once commented "first team, all femme" on one of DiJonai Carrington's Instagram posts.
https://instagram.com/p/CsUoARsNUIF
Crystal Dangerfield (she/her) was drafted 16th overall, in the second round of the 2020 WNBA draft, to the Minnesota Lynx. Dangerfield played at some little college called UConn. She currently plays for the Dallas Wings. Dangerfield is also the shortest player currently in the WNBA at 5'5".
https://instagram.com/p/C3y6FYRuWl5
DeWanna Bonner (she/her) was drafted to the Phoenix Mercury fifth-overall in 2009. She played for the Mercury for 11 seasons before being traded to the Connecticut Sun in 2020. She still plays for the Sun. Bonner is a 5x All-Star and a 2x WNBA Champion. Bonner was previously married to her Mercury teammate Candice Dupree, with whom she has twin daughters. Dupree is retired and works in player development in the MNBA. Bonner has moved on and is engaged to her Connecticut Sun teammate Alyssa Thomas.
https://instagram.com/p/CyUbVxSJdt4
DiJonai Carrington (she/her) was drafted 20th overall in the second round of the 2020 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. Carrington spent four years at Stanford, before playing one year at Baylor. She still plays for the Connecticut Sun. Carrington's father, Darren Carrington, played in the NFL. DiJonai is currently dating Indiana Fever power forward NaLyssa Smith, who was also her teammate at Baylor. They have two dogs.
https://instagram.com/p/C3A5VDgJmoj
Kahleah Copper (she/her) was drafted seventh-overall to the Washington Mystics in 2016. She then played for the Chicago Sky from 2017-2023. She will make her debut with the Phoenix Mercury in May 2024. KFC is 1x WNBA Champion 1x Finals MVP, both with the Chicago Sky. I hope she crushes the Sky in all games in 2024 for making such a terrible trade. Copper recently proposed to her ex-Barcelona teammate Binta Drammeh.
https://instagram.com/p/CwLSGgDPavC
Layshia Clarendon (she/her, they/them, he/him) was drafted ninth-overall by the Indiana Fever in 2013. Clarendon spent two years with the Fever and Dream and one year each with the Sun and the Liberty. They were waived by the Lynx in 2021, before joining the Sparks roster in 2023. Clarendon is the first openly non-binary player in the WNBA and the first player to undergo top surgery. During a wild weekend of fights last summer, Clarendon tackled Mystics player Brittney Sykes and was ejected from the game. Clarendon has a wife and a kid.
https://instagram.com/p/CzKh8yTo8aR
NaLyssa Smith (she/her) was drafted second-overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 draft. Smith played at Baylor during her collegiate career where she won a number of awards and landed DiJonai Carrington. Her team at Baylor won the NCAA Championship. Despite being last in the league, the Fever had a great team in Smith and 2023 first-round pick Aliyah Boston. Smith is dating DiJonai Carrington and they have two dogs.
https://instagram.com/p/Cs5GXOguhkL
Natasha Howard (she/her) was drafted fifth-overall by the Indiana Fever in 2014. She spent one year with the Fever, one year with the Lynx, two years with the Storm, one year with the Liberty, and has been with the Dallas Wings since 2023. Howard is a 3x WNBA Champion and 2x WNBA All-Star. Howard is dating Basketball Wives star (?) Jac'Eil Duckworth.
The other out Black gay players: Kierstan Bell (Aces), Jordin Canada (Dream), Emma Cannon (Wings),Natasha Cloud (Mercury), Syd Colson (Aces), Chelsea Gray (Aces), BG (Mercury), Jordan Horston (Storm), Natasha Howard (Wings), Jonquel Jones (Liberty), Jewell Loyd (Storm), CP (Aces), Aerial Powers (Dream), Danielle Robinson (Dream), Sug Sutton (Mercury), Brittney Sykes (Mystics), Victoria Vivians (Storm), Erica Wheeler (Fever).
Because this is ONTD, unconfirmed Black gays: Arike Ogunbowale (she posts her girlfriend on IG, but hasn't specifically come out), Kalani Brown (tagged her girlfriend in Valentine's Day posts, again hasn't specifically come out), Queen Egbo decided to shoot her shot with DiJonai Carrington on IG despite having been at Baylor with Carrington and Smith. Rhyne Howard, Zia Cooke, and Ezi Magbegor seem to be on gay wishlists.
Sources: NYT, WNBA Schedule, Durr, Thomas, Dangerfield, Williams, Bonner, Carrington, Copper, Clarendon,Smith, Howard
Mods, I'm praying that my cut works.
Let's pick on Ionescu who recently competed against Steph Curry in a three-point shooting competition during the MNBA All-Star weekend. She scored the same or better than all of the male basketball players. Ionescu is undoubtedly deserving of her place--she played for the Oregon Ducks and holds the college record for triple doubles--but she also has a close relationship with the Bryant family and is a white Christian. Being white, straight, and a Christian has led to Ionescu receiving more press. None of this is a secret; if you're interested in the disparities between the coverage white and Black players receive, check out this article by the NYT.
Basically, the WNBA has the same problem that Black sports fans have been pointing out with NCAA coverage this college season; mostly Black athletes make up the league, but mostly white athletes receive media coverage. The Black women in the WNBA are fashionable af, and also still manage to crush athletically wearing long nails, heavy-ass braids, and fake eyelashes. The WNBA Players Association and the individual players are very vocal about politics.
The 2024 WNBA Draft took place last night on ESPN (in the US), so the discourse is going to continue to discourse. FYI League Pass is $34.99, cheaper than streaming services that will cancel gay TV shows after ten episodes. The first pre-season game takes place May 3, 2024 between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings (let's go Wings!).
Let's Meet 10 of the 34*(/144) Out Gay Players in the WNBA.
*35 if draftee Dyaisha Fair makes it through training camp
https://instagram.com/p/C5ltp2ZLlkA
AD Durr (they/them) was drafted to the NY Liberty, 2nd overall, in the 2019 draft. They played for the Louisville Cardinals in college. They currently play for the Atlanta Dream. Durr does not use the term non-binary, but they are the second player in the WNBA to use pronouns other than she/her. Catch Durr and the Atlanta Dream in their first preseason game on May 4th, 2024 against the Washington Mystics. Durr married their wife 6 months ago.
https://instagram.com/p/Cu9eKVZuYDL
Alyssa Thomas (she/her) was drafted to the NY Liberty, 4th overall, but was immediately traded to the Connecticut Sun, where she still plays. Thomas played for the University of Maryland in college. Thomas is a defensive force in the WNBA. She is also a 4x All-Star. AT is engaged to her Sun teammate DeWanna Bonner.
https://instagram.com/p/C4qvOptv2hO
Courtney Williams (she/her) was drafted eighth overall by the Phoenix Mercury in 2016. Williams was traded to the Connecticut Sun in the 2016 season. Williams then moved to the Atlanta Dream, but was released from her contract after she got into a public fight. She has since played for the Sun and the Chicago Sky. She has signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Lynx beginning in the 2024 season. Williams once commented "first team, all femme" on one of DiJonai Carrington's Instagram posts.
https://instagram.com/p/CsUoARsNUIF
Crystal Dangerfield (she/her) was drafted 16th overall, in the second round of the 2020 WNBA draft, to the Minnesota Lynx. Dangerfield played at some little college called UConn. She currently plays for the Dallas Wings. Dangerfield is also the shortest player currently in the WNBA at 5'5".
https://instagram.com/p/C3y6FYRuWl5
DeWanna Bonner (she/her) was drafted to the Phoenix Mercury fifth-overall in 2009. She played for the Mercury for 11 seasons before being traded to the Connecticut Sun in 2020. She still plays for the Sun. Bonner is a 5x All-Star and a 2x WNBA Champion. Bonner was previously married to her Mercury teammate Candice Dupree, with whom she has twin daughters. Dupree is retired and works in player development in the MNBA. Bonner has moved on and is engaged to her Connecticut Sun teammate Alyssa Thomas.
https://instagram.com/p/CyUbVxSJdt4
DiJonai Carrington (she/her) was drafted 20th overall in the second round of the 2020 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. Carrington spent four years at Stanford, before playing one year at Baylor. She still plays for the Connecticut Sun. Carrington's father, Darren Carrington, played in the NFL. DiJonai is currently dating Indiana Fever power forward NaLyssa Smith, who was also her teammate at Baylor. They have two dogs.
https://instagram.com/p/C3A5VDgJmoj
Kahleah Copper (she/her) was drafted seventh-overall to the Washington Mystics in 2016. She then played for the Chicago Sky from 2017-2023. She will make her debut with the Phoenix Mercury in May 2024. KFC is 1x WNBA Champion 1x Finals MVP, both with the Chicago Sky. I hope she crushes the Sky in all games in 2024 for making such a terrible trade. Copper recently proposed to her ex-Barcelona teammate Binta Drammeh.
https://instagram.com/p/CwLSGgDPavC
Layshia Clarendon (she/her, they/them, he/him) was drafted ninth-overall by the Indiana Fever in 2013. Clarendon spent two years with the Fever and Dream and one year each with the Sun and the Liberty. They were waived by the Lynx in 2021, before joining the Sparks roster in 2023. Clarendon is the first openly non-binary player in the WNBA and the first player to undergo top surgery. During a wild weekend of fights last summer, Clarendon tackled Mystics player Brittney Sykes and was ejected from the game. Clarendon has a wife and a kid.
https://instagram.com/p/CzKh8yTo8aR
NaLyssa Smith (she/her) was drafted second-overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 draft. Smith played at Baylor during her collegiate career where she won a number of awards and landed DiJonai Carrington. Her team at Baylor won the NCAA Championship. Despite being last in the league, the Fever had a great team in Smith and 2023 first-round pick Aliyah Boston. Smith is dating DiJonai Carrington and they have two dogs.
https://instagram.com/p/Cs5GXOguhkL
Natasha Howard (she/her) was drafted fifth-overall by the Indiana Fever in 2014. She spent one year with the Fever, one year with the Lynx, two years with the Storm, one year with the Liberty, and has been with the Dallas Wings since 2023. Howard is a 3x WNBA Champion and 2x WNBA All-Star. Howard is dating Basketball Wives star (?) Jac'Eil Duckworth.
The other out Black gay players: Kierstan Bell (Aces), Jordin Canada (Dream), Emma Cannon (Wings),Natasha Cloud (Mercury), Syd Colson (Aces), Chelsea Gray (Aces), BG (Mercury), Jordan Horston (Storm), Natasha Howard (Wings), Jonquel Jones (Liberty), Jewell Loyd (Storm), CP (Aces), Aerial Powers (Dream), Danielle Robinson (Dream), Sug Sutton (Mercury), Brittney Sykes (Mystics), Victoria Vivians (Storm), Erica Wheeler (Fever).
Because this is ONTD, unconfirmed Black gays: Arike Ogunbowale (she posts her girlfriend on IG, but hasn't specifically come out), Kalani Brown (tagged her girlfriend in Valentine's Day posts, again hasn't specifically come out), Queen Egbo decided to shoot her shot with DiJonai Carrington on IG despite having been at Baylor with Carrington and Smith. Rhyne Howard, Zia Cooke, and Ezi Magbegor seem to be on gay wishlists.
Sources: NYT, WNBA Schedule, Durr, Thomas, Dangerfield, Williams, Bonner, Carrington, Copper, Clarendon,Smith, Howard
Mods, I'm praying that my cut works.