definitely something that complicates the role of WAGs is that the entire elite sports apparatus really does function on the unpaid labor of women… including but not limited to WAGs. at the youth level it’s the mother but at the elite level these men really rely on their female partners to do so much for them that allows their elite athletic lives to function. steven ortiz talks about this a lot in The Sports Marriage: that athletes choose wives that become their second mothers to do all of the things that mommy always took care of for them when they were boys. excerpts:

like part of humanizing these women is understanding that WAGs have agency and are neither the hapless passive victims of self-serving famous male athletes nor empowered feminist women who have total control over their lives and images. when it comes to the athlete-wag relationship, i have one million more critiques of the athlete even confined to conduct within that relationship than of his partner who carries far less influence and power.