Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, continues to use her growing platform to advocate for Black women in sports. The Dallas Wings rookie first made waves in 2021 during her ESPYs speech, where she celebrated Black women and highlighted the disparities they face in media coverage compared to their white counterparts. Now, as she embarks on her professional career, Bueckers remains steadfast in her commitment to addressing these issues.
Bueckers recently shared her thoughts in a TIME profile, where she emphasized that Black women are still underrepresented and underappreciated in sports media. “It’s still an issue, every single day,” she stated. “There’s not ever equal coverage.” She acknowledged the privileges she experiences, noting, “I feel like I’ve worked extremely hard, blessed by God. But I do think there’s more opportunities for me.” However, Bueckers is quick to recognize the privilege associated with being white in the industry, and she is dedicated to using her position to counterbalance the inequality.
Her ongoing push for equality mirrors the sentiments shared by other WNBA players, such as Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink, who also discussed the disparity in marketing opportunities for white athletes. Bueckers emphasized that while white privilege exists in sports media, she aims to counteract it by focusing on uplifting underrepresented voices and promoting equal opportunities.
In the same interview, Bueckers discussed the rising popularity of women’s basketball and the growing exposure of the sport. She pointed out the increasing attention to college, WNBA, and even high school basketball, saying, “Whenever we get the platform, we perform. There are big names, but when you tune in to watch the big names, you leave as fans of so many others because it is such a beautiful sport we play, and it is a team effort.”
As Bueckers prepares for her first official WNBA season with the Dallas Wings, she is ready to use her platform not just to excel on the court but also to continue advocating for greater equity in sports media.