Jemele Hill Says $3 Billion WNBA Boom Demands Scrutiny, Not Cheerleading

4 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 14

Jemele Hill said on her podcast that the WNBA’s growth has brought a wave of new coverage, but many fans still expect journalists to act as team extensions rather than independent reporters.
More than $3 billion in media-rights value, rising attendance and richer player pay have pushed the league into the mainstream, Hill argued, making tougher questions and less protective coverage inevitable.
Recent flashpoints include backlash over criticism of restrictive locker-room access, the WNBPA’s defense of DiJonai Carrington after Christine Brennan’s question about Caitlin Clark, and team PR cutting off other lines of inquiry.
Hill said that treating criticism as betrayal creates a double standard: male athletes face constant harsh analysis, while negative WNBA coverage is often framed as sexism or disloyalty.
Her broader point was that if the WNBA wants the benefits of major-league status—higher salaries, better facilities and wider attention—it also has to accept accountability and uncomfortable scrutiny.

Are WNBA players rejecting all media criticism, or a specific style of coverage their male counterparts don't face?

With billion-dollar deals signed, what is the WNBA's plan to bridge the divide between players demanding respect and media demanding access?