What so many people continue to miss is that the criticism was never about the comparison itself. Athletes get compared to one another all the time. That is part of sports. The issue has always been the context.

The Lynx knew exactly what they were doing when they put that graphic everywhere. It was on the broadcast, across social media, and in the arena. They knew the conversation would never stay focused solely on basketball because they understand the environment surrounding this league and the players in it.

This is a Black woman. This is a queer woman. She exists at the intersection of multiple identities that already make her a target for some of the worst parts of online sports culture. Every game, every stat line, every mistake, every accomplishment gets dissected in ways that many other players never experience. The comments aren’t just about basketball. They become personal. They become hateful.

That is why so many fans were upset. Not because players cannot be compared. Not because people are afraid of basketball debates. Fans were upset because organizations have a responsibility to understand the reality of what certain players face every day.

And honestly, I know people joke that Azzi is never on social media, but there is nothing funny about the fact that an athlete has to distance herself from online spaces to protect her peace and mental well being. No player should have to avoid opening an app because of the volume of hate, harassment, and toxicity waiting for them. That should concern people far more than any basketball comparison ever could.

Sports organizations love talking about supporting women athletes, supporting Black athletes, and supporting LGBTQ+ athletes. Support isn’t just a slogan you post during Pride Month or Black History Month. Support means recognizing when one of your players or any player for that matter, is being subjected to constant hostility and not contributing to it for engagement.

Maybe the graphic wasn’t created with malicious intent. But intent isn’t the only thing that matters. Impact matters too. And the impact was completely predictable.

awwww he brought his nana 🥹

-team came out with good energy and high spirits. They all had smiles, got their pregame prayer in.

-Jose uses the F word a-lot and I can’t even count how many times I heard it but when they were down 10 in the first before Azzi went in, he stomped his foot and said “Fudd, go get her”

-Azzi with the first 5 points was great. Bench loved it. Lots of cheers

-in timeouts, AC is a big motivator who constantly/and sternly keeps people engaged in the huddles til Jose comes over

-I don’t like speaking on things that are assumptions but something seemed off with Azzi tonight. Every time she got subbed out, someone was leaning in to ask if she’s alright/feeling alright. She nodded yes everytime so I don’t think it’s anything too important

-when Paige took that hard fall, Azzi turned around immediately and looked up at the screen because that arena only has screens in the two opposite corners. When they did the replay, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her grimace that hard. AC immediately started asking the trainers for towels bc they were gonna go run and cover up Paige laying there, then Jose said “Fudd, go” so she jumped up and was taking off her warmup shirt before the ref ended up using a timeout.

-Paige came and sat at the end of the bench with the trainers, they had an ice pack on her back. I don’t know if it was her head but I know they were treating her back, and she was grimacing when the trainer was pressing on her back. She was bent over, but I couldn’t tell if she was holding her head or just had her face in her hands

-when the game restarted, as they were giving high fives, Azzi tugged on Paige’s jersey as she walked by and asked if she was okay and Paige looked like she said “I’m alright”

-Paige eventually went back in the game which everyone behind the bench was surprised because we didn’t think she should (but I’m not a medical professional)

-the wings caught good momentum and had a small lead but then it just kept falling apart. Jose used the F word a lot every time Jordin Canada hit a three pointer.

-Sometime in the first half, when Alanna got hit again, she went to the end of the bench and before the game resumed, Azzi walked over and kissed her hand, then lightly patted Alanna’s nose with it

-in one of the huddles, Azzi said “let’s go babe” to Paige and I only can confidently say this because the two girls in front of me both turned around and said “did she say that?” And then we laughed bc we all heard it.

-the assistant coaches were running out of electrolyte powder which was a funny random thing that happened

-you could tell that everyone was not fully in it, like they all looked frustrated and tired and clearly on their third game in five days

-you could tell that Jose was trying to find a rotation that worked because at one point he sent Li in the game and then immediately took her out when Atlanta subbed in someone else. I don’t think the rotations were great but Dallas didn’t really have an answer for a lot of what Atlanta was doing.

-overall, I honestly don’t know that they could’ve won that with the energy I saw. Everyone looked dejected and over it and the shots not falling for pretty much everyone made it worse.

azzi is a starter!!! she can create on her own and is one of our best defensive players

he need to give maddy her starting spot back seriously (at least while lan is recovering)

awak needs some trust! she wasn’t dpoty for nothing