All Things Sports

Hi guys, welcome back to All Things Sports! This post is going to be different from the others because there are two separate topics that we are going to cover today: the growth of women’s basketball, specifically at the college level, and the Palestinian Men’s Soccer team. 

First let’s address women’s college basketball. Previously I had documented the insane rise of Iowa star Caitlin Clark along with LSU star Angel Reese and what it meant for women’s basketball and women’s sports in general. Well since then, women’s basketball has only continued to grow. However, this growth is currently best on display at the college level(the WNBA is currently not in season). Figures from ESPN showed that just last week a high-stakes match between a South Carolina team led by famous coach Dawn Staley and LSU drew about 1.6 million viewers that night. On the surface that may not seem like much but considering the fact that it drew more viewers than 2 other nationally televised NBA games, both of which were high-stakes rivalry games, that figure becomes all the more impressive. This game isn’t a one-off either nor did it draw the most viewers this year. In fact, just a few days before, a matchup between Ohio State and Iowa got almost 2 million viewers according to Sports Business Journal. This is just a microcosm of the growth that women’s basketball has seen over the last year. Where does it start? The stars. Angel Reese has almost 2 million dollars in sponsorships, Caitlin Clark has increased attendance for her games by over 150%, and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu just announced a 3-point contest against Stephen Curry, widely regarded as the best shooter of all time and the man who changed basketball forever. No matter the outcome of the contest, the significance still remains: women’s basketball is on the rise and they can serve as a beacon for women’s sports everywhere. As these stars continue to grow both on and off the court, the popularity of their sport will grow as well. Women’s basketball is doing better than ever and when Clark and Reese eventually turn pro(Clark is expected to be the top pick in next year’s draft), the WNBA will most certainly benefit from their star power.  This story is not one that is at the end of its journey nor is it even the middle. This is just the beginning for women’s basketball and women’s sports. 

Next let’s talk about Palestine. Now as of right now, there is a conflict going between Israel and Hamas and here, I am not going to make any political arguments about that conflict. As a disclaimer I must say that I do not support Hamas in their war against Israel and I am not here to take a side. That being said, it is no secret nor is it false to say that Palestinian civilians are being slaughtered and suffering as a result of the brutal war. It is to the point that nations across the world are calling for humanitarian aid so that women and children can survive in the war-torn environment. However, their men’s national soccer team is a bright spot and a beacon of hope right now. You see in Qatar, the 2024 Asia Cup is currently taking place and for the first time in history, Palestine advanced to the knockout stages of the tournament, beating Hong Kong 3-0 to advance ahead of major countries like India(why do we suck so much by the way). As you can imagine this has given the civilians of Palestine who are suffering something to cheer about. In the West Bank, Palestinians were sitting in cafes that had festive atmospheres as they cheered on their team. The citizens have rallied around their team and even though they lost 2-1 to the hosts, and one of the favorites, Qatar, they have their heads held high. They have become a symbol of pride and hope to the civilians who are suffering as a result of the brutal conflict. This is what sports is all about. This is why I love sports. Its power to inspire and unify cannot be understated, even in a time of war. Things such as the Christmas Day truce in World War 1(look it up), the Afghanistan cricket team, and now this all go to show what sport is all about. The emotions, hope and pride that sport can invoke are unlike any other. While the conflict continues to rage and people continue to suffer, this gives them something to smile about; truly a win for everybody.