For Finals MVP Gabby Williams, being likeable takes a secondary stage when it comes to taking a stance on issues she believes in. In July, Sophie Cunningham’s comments in a personal interview about transgender athletes and their participation in women’s sports, including the WNBA, kicked off a political firestorm that had the whole basketball community divided. However, not swayed by any narratives, Gabby Williams isn’t backing down.
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During a media engagement with GQ’s Alan Chazaro preceding the Valkyries’ championship parade, Williams detailed her public advocacy for the queer and trans communities, directly addressing the negative external responses generated by her public stance.
“…We all just deserve to have a chance. So it’s a no-brainer. I just speak my mind. I speak how I feel. I’m not going to try to be media-trained,” Williams said. “If I’m saying something and it pisses you off and you want me to compromise my character so you can consume my media better, don’t consume anything. Don’t watch me play. If it bothers you that much that I care about human lives or whatever it is, that’s fine. If I pissed off a bigot, great.”
“…I never want to compromise my character for my career. I just don’t want to compromise my character. At the end of the day, I’m dribbling a basketball while someone is fighting for their lives. And obviously, I’m part of the queer community. Of course, I’m very close to a lot of trans people, and they’re humans. We’re all just human, whether you agree with me or not,” Williams added.
Williams commented on this controversial issue earlier in a post-practice interview in May, in the wake of Cunningham’s comments.
“I think it’s trans rights now that is our new battle.”
“There’s a lot of discourse around trans athletes and what they can compete in. I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team any time. I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people. We’ve seen players like Layshia Clarendon who stepped into that forefront. Have been brave enough and courageous enough to kind of step up. So I guess that’s the next battle that we have to fight as athletes.”
Williams referred to former American professional basketball player Layshia Renee Clarendon, who played 12 seasons in the WNBA, as the league’s first openly transgender and non-binary player.
And Williams is not alone in giving her support and being vocal on this issue. Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud also made her stance very clear, having been embroiled in a controversy of her own during the season, which involved a former NBA player being ejected from a game.
“To every trans kid/person, you are a part of my community & tribe,” Cloud wrote in a social media post. “You belong. You’re loved. You’re seen. You’re perfect as you are. & you will always be protected by me.”
Now, while Williams’ stance on this issue will have supporters as well as opponents, her theatrics on the court have been appreciated universally, and the winningest college basketball coach of all time has now joined the line of people who have given Williams the flowers after a successful season.
Geno Auriemma Reminds Everyone Of The Journey Williams Has Made Till Now
Gabby Williams admitted that the media did not show her the respect that she felt she deserved so far in her WNBA career. While that won’t be the case now, Geno Auriemma credits her former pupil for staying grounded and maintaining the mindset to work in the right direction all these years.
“When you think about their careers, they didn’t leave here and immediately have years like Stewie [Breanna Stewart] or Diana [Taurasi] or Maya [Moore],” said Auriemma said, per CT Insider. “They left here and worked at it, and worked at it, and worked at it, all in very different situations, and made the most of who they are.”
Williams was named WNBA Finals MVP after averaging 19.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 steals in a seven-game series against Atlanta. The former UConn player scored 28 of her 30 points in the second half of Game 7, which is a WNBA record.
“Gabby was in Chicago, then L.A., and then she was traded to Seattle,” Auriemma added. “Who would have thought she would have the type of success she had?… She went overseas, and then all of a sudden, she was in the perfect place, at the perfect time, in the right environment. To me, that’s the biggest thing for Gabby.”
The Valkyries’ fans will only hope that this is the start of something special for their team. Now, whether Williams achieves on-court success or not in the future, it’s clear she will continue to speak up on issues that she believes in.