Everyone knows that TNT NBA commentator Charles Barkley has never been one to bite his tongue. Especially when it comes to making comments about the sport he loves. Sunday was no different.
While watching the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship game, Barkley offered some commentary on the state of the women’s game.
Firstly, Barkley spoke out of the number of female basketball players having to go overseas to play, like Brittney Griner who had to play in Russia during the offseason to make more money.
"The WNBA is a great product but ya'll should not have to do to these crap countries to make money." – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/WhiJIE0jr6
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 2, 2023
“The WNBA is a great product but ya’ll should not have to do to these crap countries to make money,” he said.
While the sport has grown and the numbers are up for this year’s women’s championship game, WNBA players still don’t make as much as their male counterparts when they turn pro.
Barkley also pointed out how WNBA players are largely ignored when it comes to major commercial deals.
“You ladies could be on commercials everywhere. We put bad NBA players in commercials before some of ya’ll superstars.”
The women’s game is still not on the level as the men’s game. Last year South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley complained about how women basketball players are treated differently than men during the NCAA Tournament when it comes to facilities, equipment, and even food.
The NCAA made some changes, you have to wonder if the WNBA will be making changes themselves to improve their game too.
About Stacey Mickles
Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.