when internalized homophobia comes to the WNBA

also: links and memes

I’ve had a few paying assignments that have taken up my time recently, so keep eyes out for those soon! I wrote today’s post while in a POTS flare with severe brain fog so please forgive me if this piece doesn’t seem up to my usual standard. I am a full-time freelance writer and paid subscriptions to this newsletter allow me to continue to do work like this, as well as pay an editor to help me with them. You can upgrade here:

Below: a look at internalized homophobia in recent comments made by DiJonai Carrington, some links for the week, and a few of my favorite internet memes.

---

Housekeeping:

• The NWSL season starts this week. A group of OOYL subscribers are doing a fantasy league; details for joining are in the OOYL chat.

• Paid subscribers can participate in the OOYL Book Club. This month’s selection is HURTS SO GOOD by Leigh Cowart. More info here.

• On April 9th, I’ll be doing an event at a new local book cafe in my neighborhood, JustBook-ish.

• I spoke to Dave Zirin about the current environment facing trans athletes.

• For Xtra, I wrote about why queer women were the MVPs of this season of The Traitors US.

---

when internalized homophobia comes to the WNBA

DiJonai Carrington went on Angel Reese’s podcast, Unapologetically Angel, last week and made some comments that have caused a decent amount of controversy, both on the lesbian internet and in the larger world of women’s basketball.

The comments that made the WBB world sit up and pay attention were Reese’s, who said that she has “heard that a player strike could occur” if the WNBA “doesn’t acquiesce to what the Player’s Association wants.”

“That’s a possibility, for real,” the Carrington agreed.

That’s the first rumblings of a potential strike that the public has heard about since the WNBA players opted out of their current collective bargaining agreement at the end of last season. The idea that players might engage in collective action has faced some pushback, including people who claim the league can’t afford a lockout at this point in its development. But as

Andrew Haubner

asks, “Why do owners get free runway to do their labor posturing while players doing basic public negotiation tactics are subject to consternation pieces?” It’s a great question, but that’s not what today’s newsletter is about.

So let’s look at the comments that made the lesbian internet take notice, which came from Carrington—particularly when she emphatically stated that she is “not gay” and “not even into girls” despite being in a long-term relationship with fellow WNBA player (and now Dallas Wings teammate) NaLyssa Smith.