In recent years, the WNBA has gained a massive amount of new fans thanks to young stars like Paige Bueckers, but the league's popularity naturally will bring in folks who don't understand the nuances between players. This is primarily seen in interactions involving Caitlin Clark, especially since every Indiana Fever game isin front of a national audience. However, other stars like Angel Reese and Bueckers aren't strangers to online criticism and fans blowing interactions between players out of proportion and looking for drama when there’s really nothing to it either.
That was a dichotomy that Sue Bird discussed with Bueckers when the Dallas Wings star was on a recent episode of the WNBA legend's "Bird's Eye View" podcast.
The drama can get "annoying"
Bird admitted that she would love to play in today's WNBA, but something she doesn't envy is being the center of social media chatter.
Bueckers understands that part of the WNBA's growth is social media and the increased media attention. However, she also admitted to Bird that it can get "annoying" from time to time. She recalled a moment during the Wings' overtime loss to the New York Liberty on July 20, a game she missed due to injury.
"There was a moment where the game headed into overtime, and I was talking to Azzi [Fudd], and I was trying to fire her up, speak some life into her," Bueckers told Bird. "It was a very animated conversation, and there was a side that was like, 'This is not new to them. This is how Paige has been talking to Azzi.' Then there's a side like, 'Oh my gosh. She's railing her. She's cussing her out. What kind of teammate is this?'"
Bird noted that it was a normal interaction between players. However, fans might remember the drama around Fudd's No. 1 selection in the WNBA draft and the reckless speculation that Bueckers' romantic relationship with Fudd might have influenced the pick.
Obviously, that has turned out to not be a problem, and Fudd has had a great season, even as Olivia Miles produces MVP-level numbers. However, it's understandable how the online speculation can be exahusting for players.
"There's a whole bunch of normal stuff that happens throughout a basketball game and throughout the WNBA season where it's normal and then people blow it out of proportion to make it this huge thing that it's not, and it's something that happens every day in sports," Bueckers said.
Sometimes things can get heated on the court
Another viral moment for Bueckers came during a June 28 game when the Minnesota Lynx beat Dallas.
Miles took a rough landing on the side panels when trying to steal the ball from Jessica Shepard. Miles went at it with Shepard, and Bueckers stood up for her teammate and exchanged words with the Lynx rookie. On one hand, it was a fun moment between two young superstars, but on the other side of the aisle, it was another reason to put Bueckers down or to overanalyze a situation, as Bueckers discussed.
"I don't hate the girl. I have a bunch of love and respect for her," Bueckers said. "We have a great relationship. It's just a heat in a moment, two competitors going at it."
That's all it was, and if it happened in the NBA or another men's sport, everyone would have moved on, but, unfortunately, the WNBA isn't so lucky and career-high games can't always be celebrated because there's drama that newer fans try to drive up because they can't comprehend that female athletes can be just as, sometimes more, competitive than their male counterparts.
Similar to Bueckers, WNBA fans understand that that attitude isn't going to fade overnight. However, hopefully, the new fans can learn a lesson from Bueckers and understand that not everything needs to be overanalyzed.
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