Slice of Life Post for Tuesday, April 9, 2024

After months of watching the Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s basketball team, it is suddenly over. We were soundly defeated by SC and their coach of the year Dawn Staley. The defeat hurts, but I am so proud of this team and how they worked together to create a magical season full of hype and increased an awareness of the game.

The Iowa Women’s basketball team is full of fantastic, motivated young women. Gabby Marshall has always been one of my favorites. Her hands are quick as lightning and she’s an amazing defender. She struggled throughout the year to make a three-point shot, something she has proven she can do in the past. Fortunately, by March her three-point shot was back.

Kate Martin is considered the team’s leader, her nickname is “The Glue.” She is beyond tough. Watching her drive to the basket is a thing of beauty. The same can be said of Sydney Affolter who did not start until Molly Davis was injured. Molly can play like Caitlin, dropping threes, and easily handling the ball. She’s known for her headband.

Then there’s Hannah Stuelke, a gal from my own home town who likes to wear her hair in two puffs. Many t-shirts show this “Mickey Mouse” looking image with the logo Powerpuffs. She plays hard under the basket and has immensely improved her free throw shooting. Something she needed to do since she is constantly being banged up.

Of course, the big star is none other than Caitlin Clark who has broken 47 records, endorses multiple franchises including State Farm, and is making more money than I can even fathom. Caitlin is a generational talent, but she takes the time to sign jerseys, posters, basketballs, and even signs her shoes and then gives them to some lucky young girl. She’s raised a phenomenal amount of money for food banks and is always praising her coaches and players.

I’m so proud of these players and even more not mentioned, and I will continue to enjoy watching them in the future.

The thing though that has me devastated is the way ESPN handled the broadcasting. They invited Aliyah Boston to be part of the all black female panel. Aliyah was one of the South Carolina team members who were defeated by Iowa last year. After Sunday’s game, you can see Aliyah crying with happy tears and congratulating the SC team.

I often find the announcing of games painful, and this one was no different. When SC scored a three pointer the announcer hollered, “Yes! Yes!” Okay, now I take that as one who is wanting SC to win. But why? Why can’t announcers just call the game and not make their preferences clear?

After we beat UCONN, which was in no way easy, Scott Van Pelt had to focus on an illegal screen call that was made near the end of the game. It was the first question he asked Andraya Carter who replied, “It sucked.” Totally disregarding the fact that it was a correct call. Gabby Marshall as the defender who was being illegally blocked discontinued her social media accounts because of all the hateful threats she received. Why did the announcers not point out the fact that UCONN missed a missed free throw rebound that might have helped them win the game?

Then there’s the whole GOAT debate where people want to claim Caitlin is not a GOAT because she has never won a national championship. Followed by WNBA players such as Diana Taurasi, Lynette Woodward, Breanna Stewart, and Sheryl Swoops publicly airing demeaning remarks. Caitlin has said in the past that she has felt a lot of weight on her shoulders. I can’t imagine being 22 years old and having this type of scrutiny. It’s truly disappointing. I am mystified by how women will continue to undermine other women. I have read several posts, articles and viewed videos. Some believe it’s a race issue because Caitlin is white in a field dominated by black athletes.

Is race the issue? Is it jealousy? I’m not sure, but I’m struggling to purge myself from feeling all these toxic vibes, and I’m disappointed by the way the media spins stories.

By next week I will probably still be plugging along. I know Caitlin has a great deal of basketball playing ahead of her that I will hopefully get to enjoy. Life will go on and there’s a whole lot of bigger issues on the horizon, but in the meantime, I hope people start to recognize the damage words have, and I hope women start trying to be more conscious of their actions and do better at lifting each other up. I believe women have the better ability to create harmony, peace and unity. I’m just not feeling it at all right now.