NBA Legend’s Harsh Attack on Brittney Griner and WNBA Stars Got Him on Megan Rapinoe’s Radar Once: “Showed Your Whole A**”

USWNT star forward Megan Rapinoe is known for fighting against the gender pay gap. In 2019, she and her teammates filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer. She has been outspoken about many social injustices, and the systemic issue of unequal pay has been one of her biggest battles.

Last year, NBA star Draymond Green criticized the efforts by female athletes to close the gender pay gap, which received a scathing response from Rapinoe.

Draymond Green commented on the fight for equal pay

In April last year, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green talked to reporters, criticizing how female athletes approached gender pay gap issues. “I’m really tired of seeing them complain about the lack of pay, b/c they’re doing themselves a disservice by just complaining,” he claimed.

“The people that can change it will keep saying, ‘The revenue isn’t there,’” he continued. He made the statement in the wake of a series of tweets he made days prior, explaining what he thinks should be the course of action.

Green’s allegations that women athletes like Sue Bird and Brittney Griner aren’t doing enough behind the scenes didn’t sit well with those fighting the nuanced battle. Consequently, reporters asked top athletes like Megan Rapinoe, and WNBA stars Nneka Ogwumike and Angel McCoughtry about Green’s comments.

Megan Rapinoe slammed Green for being ignorant

About a week after Draymond Green talked to reporters, Megan Rapinoe responded with severely critical response. She was upset with his misinformed views and using his platform to downplay women’s efforts. “You obviously kind of showed your whole a** in not even understanding what we all talk about all the time… You don’t think we’ve asked for more funding? What are we screaming about nonstop?”

Later, Green talked to reporters about Rapinoe’s response, claiming that they had misconstrued his words. “I think it’s unfortunate that she thinks it’s unfortunate that that’s my view,” Green said. “At the end of the day what Megan [Rapinoe] wants and what I want is the same thing.” He claimed they hold different perspectives on how to achieve common goals. 

READ MORE: Megan Rapinoe Celebrated With Teammates After Receiving Presidential Medal of Freedom

Other top athletes also responded to the criticism, taking a progressive stance and hooping to further the conversation. “I do appreciate Draymond coming out and using his platform to talk about it. I would like to take it a step further and say let’s continue these discussions even if they are offline,” Ogwumike also said on Green’s comments.

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The fight for equal pay isn’t necessarily straightforward, and a variety of efforts are required to reach the crux of the issue and bring about change.