By Cassandra Cousineau of LVSportsBiz.com
A’ja Wilson walked onto the court for a pre-game shootaround for Tuesday’s Las Vegas Aces-Chicago Sky game in a perfunctory manner.
Per usual, her left leg is sleeved in black neoprene and her hair pulled back in a taut cloth headband. She’s ready to go just like she has been for hundreds of other high school, college and WNBA games during her career.
One of the most upbeat professional athletes you’ll ever encounter, Wilson was born to play basketball. She’s one of the best in the world.
But there was a time when there wasn’t a place for her on a collegiate, let alone professional court, though. As Title IX marks its 50th anniversary this year, the current WNBA Player of the Week is one of countless women who benefited from the law best known for creating gender equity in athletics, and preventing sexual harassment on college campuses in the United States.
“Respect them when they play,” Wilson said on the red carpet while attending the Title IX awards hosted by the Aces at Allegiant Stadium. The IXs recognized outstanding women and men who have been instrumental in the fight for equality in sports and beyond. “Respect women’s sports and women’s athletes. Just know that we put in the time and the work just like everybody else. I’m glad the law is on the books. We have to continue to do more.”
The law was shepherded through Congress in 1972, in part, by Representative Patsy Mink, a Democrat from Hawaii who was the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House. Despite its age, Tile IX remains a vital piece in the ongoing push for equality, including in the LGBTQ community.
The first 50 years of Title IX was all about letting them play as it provided access to gyms, fields, and appropriate equipment for female athletes.
On its golden anniversary, the WNBA is both celebrating the attempt to level the playing field by Title IX through a series of events, and partnering with ESPN in producing a 30 for 30 documentary celebrating the 1996 Women’s Gold Medal winning Olympic team called “Dream On.”
Jennifer Azzi, was a member of that 1996 team and is now the Aces’ Chief Business Development Officer. “It’s important to celebrate what that team did, and what that team meant. We also have to keep in mind that there’s a long way to go,” she said. That historic team was part of the impetus of the WNBA.
The current team of Las Vegas Aces doesn’t know a world in which women were not allowed to play organized sports. Players Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Wilson and the entire team haven’t even lived in a world without the internet. They’re part of a generation who have benefited from federally funded educational institutions providing proper equipment and leagues for female athletes to compete.
“The great thing about Title IX was about participation. Now, it’s about participation and compensation. To be able have women to be able to make the same salary as men,” said Carolyn Peck, a WNBA broadcaster for the Aces and former coach.
“You have to look at what Mark Davis did and his investment in the Aces phenomenal coach Becky Hammon. It’s a demonstration of men paying attention,” Peck said. “It’s not just about sports, but it’s about equity and evolution as we continue to gain positions at the table of decision makers.”
In 1971, before Title IX was passed only one percent of college athletics budgets went to women’s programs. The numbers were even more dim at the high school level where male athletes outnumbered girls 12.5 to 1. Perhaps the athlete most synonymous with Title IX is tennis great Billie Jean King. King testified on Capitol Hill and has been a vocal advocate of equality since the 1960’s.
“Equality is something that we should never think is achieved. We have to continue to ackowledge discrepancies and work to make things more equal. Especially as long as women are underpaid in sports and in any job,” King said.
We have more work to do towards better inclusion for LGBTQ and trans athletes as well. The first 50 years were defined by let them play. The next 50 years should be about pay them. Pay these women; they have earned it. — tennis legend Billie Jean King
Aces All-Star guard Chelsea Gray echoed the words of King and added the importance of social justice, something the WNBA has been a leading voice of during the past couple of years.
“Let them play and let our voices be as loud as anyone else in the room,” Gray said. “I think a lot of kids are looking at us to make sure that they’re being heard.”
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The Aces blasted off to a stunning 41-18 lead over WNBA defending champions Chicago Sky after the first quarter, but blew the big first half lead and lost, 104-95. The Aces were up by 28 points at one point. Chicago’s comeback was the biggest comeback in WNBA history.
Las Vegas dropped to 13-3 on the season after the disheartening loss. The Aces attendance was 4,951.
After scoring the franchise record of 41 points in the first quarter, the Aces scored only 54 points in the last three quarters while their defense was shredded by Chicago. The Sky scored 33 points in the second quarter and another 30 in the third quarter when the Aces were outscored by 19 points, 30-11.
Courtney Vandersloot led Chicago with 25 points, while star Candace Parker and Emma Meeseman added 17 points each.
For Las Vegas, Jackie Young led the team with 23 points, while Plum added 22. Wilson had 16.
Hammon was unhappy with the Aces’ defensive performance as Chicago converted 58 percent of its shot attempts.
Aces host Washington Mystics at home Saturday.