Star tours: Wade, Davis latest to check out Sky
Dwyane Wade and Anthony Davis are the latest stars to voice support for the WNBA.
Wade and Davis, who returned to Chicago this weekend for their respective youth basketball camps, sat courtside Sunday at Wintrust Arena for the Sky’s game against the Indiana Fever.
Wade, who was with an entourage that included his mother, JoLinda, was seated at center court. Davis was sitting at the baseline and was joined by several young basketball players who won tickets to the game after winning a scrimmage Friday at his Nike Rise Camp at Kenwood Academy.
“I love watching basketball, my family is a basketball family and I thought it would be a cool thing for the kids to come in and watch the game of basketball as well from a differ- ent perspective,” Davis said Friday. “I’m not even sure most of these kids have ever seen a WNBA game before.”
Over the last few years, more and more NBA players have made it a point to support the WNBA. This season, Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. has attended three Sky games, while Jabari Parker has come to one.
“A lot of NBA players are supportive of WNBA players,” Wade said. “We love basketball. It’s some great basketball that’s played in the WNBA, just as well as the NBA and just as well overseas. I always say, some of the game’s best players are WNBA players.”
Wade and Davis believe it’s important for NBA players to show their support.
“We want to see it grow,” Wade said. “We want to see it get there. It’s been 20 years. It’s been too long. Hopefully, the wave is coming in the time that we are in — Time’s up, MeToo — all these things. It’s time for our WNBA women to get their just due and their recognition.”
Said Davis: “All the women are there for a reason: They’re professional athletes. Anybody who can make it to the WNBA and the NBA is there for a reason.”
Wade said he always has been a supporter of equality. But his perspective was reinforced when he and his wife, Gabrielle Union, had a daughter in December.
“When you have a daughter who loves sports and grew up around it, they may want to be on this stage one day,” Wade said. “Hopefully, the game grows bigger. If my daughter wants to play here, by the time she gets here, hopefully, they’re selling out every night in every arena.”