Policing Women's Sports, A Double Standard

“It’s cool when they do it, it’s a problem when I do it…” a song by rapper Finesse Two Times summarizes how sportsmanship is policed in men’s and women’s sports. This discourse comes after the recent women’s NCAA win by Louisiana State University (LSU) basketball over Iowa University. Unfortunately, the win is an afterthought as the conversation has surrounded the sportsmanship of LSU sophomore star player Angel Reese. 

In the last 30 seconds of the game with LSU up substantially in score, Reese taunted star player Caitlin Clark by mimicking the famous John Cena “You can’t see me” motion. A move that Clark had done all season and quite frankly, is well known in the competitive sports world. So, why all the drama? Well for those two, their rivalry goes back to freshman year when they played against each other with Reese at Maryland University & Clark at Iowa University. 

The problem for the rest of the world seems to be calling into question “winning with class” as if men don’t completely disrespect each other by doing dance routines in the in-zone of football games. Respectability politics? The same politics that had the crowd going wild when Ali was singing nursery rhymes around the boxing ring? The same politics that loves a Lebron poster dunk and stare-down? 

The reality? Reese and her predominantly Black teammates were taunted by the media all year long. Reese says, “I'm too hood, I'm too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y'all don't say nothing. So this is for the girls that look like me.” 

Head Coach of South Carolina State University Dawn Staley echoed a similar message in a recent press conference stating "We're not bar fighters. We're not thugs. We're not monkeys. We're not street fighters.”

Even amidst LSU’s highest moment, they were still reminded that they live at the intersection of being both Black & women. A place where discrimination comes from both directions and you’re caught in the crossfire. The idea that women's sports are policed is one thing but, as a Black woman, there is extra responsibility because of the idea of intersectionality. Coined by activist Kimberle Crenshaw, it encompasses the experiences of Black women who face discrimination from the intersection of race and gender. 

The entire situation is telling of how heavily women’s sports are policed but when Connor McDavid fights during a hockey game it’s considered entertaining. The point is sports are competitive, not just men’s. Trash talk is a part of the game and when there’s a National Championship on the line, words will fly. 

Clark had this to say “I don't think Angel should be criticized at all. No matter which way it goes, I don't think she should be criticized for what she did. ... She competed ... Everybody knew there would be trash talk in entire tournament. It's not just me and Angel."

Not everyone has something negative to say. The President of LSU William F. Tate IV, came out in support of Reese saying “If you don’t like it, beat her, if you can’t beat her, shut up.” Under head coach Kim Mulkey, Reese is a sophomore forward who clearly couldn’t be beaten after having 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals to help her team win the Natty.