The Influence of the Black Culture in the NBA and WNBA – WNBA.com

From Jordan shoes to hip-hop, black culture has been the dominant culture in both the WNBA and the NBA. Through music, fashion and games, black culture has inspired players to be part of the WNBA and NBA. Including me. Growing up in Mississippi as a black kid, I wanted to be Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan. These were some of the players who made a lot of people join the NBA. I wanted to dribble, play, shoot, dress, and even talk like her. It got to the point that I asked to get every pair of Jordans and asked my mom for braids just like Al.

The growth of the game of basketball in the WNBA and NBA has helped build bridges between cultures and communities. The platform shared by both leagues also inspires many around the world. The influence they had far beyond the court.

For Satou Sabally, the trip to the WNBA was very different from that for American players on and off the pitch. Sabally is a 6’4 ”WNBA player for the Dallas Wings from Germany. In the WNBA draft 2020, she was selected by the Wings as second in the overall ranking. Sabally grew up in German culture, where the predominant sport was soccer. Sabally was able to learn about the NBA and WNBA through YouTube videos and from time to time get up at 4 a.m. to watch games live.

“I played soccer before basketball. It’s like the cultural identity in Germany [to play soccer]”Said Sabally. “My first coach saw me on the playground and came up to me because I was significantly taller than many of my classmates. She asked me if I wanted to go to the girls’ basketball camp and I said why not. “

Sabally wasn’t the only player to switch from soccer to basketball. Former NBA legend Steve Nash and current NBA all-star Joel Embiid both made similar changes, praising their home country’s sport for giving them a competitive advantage. Their footwork makes these players extremely difficult to handle on the court. Satou was nicknamed the Unicorn for her athletic ability and ability at her height, which led to her being recognized by colleges in the United States.

“When I originally thought of America, I thought of land [music]but the people I played basketball with here listened to hip-hop and R&B, ”Sabally said. “Lil Durk is someone I absolutely love now, but I’ve never heard of him in Germany. here [in the U.S.], my friends are listening to him. He’s so dope. I always like his jams. “

“It was a lot [when I moved to the United States]. I was super excited and nervous too. I love new beginnings and a new challenge, ”said Sabally. “I had great teammates, most of whom were Americans. Since I’m in this environment, I record it super fast. “

Despite the adjustments in the environment and lifestyle, the game of basketball was still the same. Sabally was every bit as unique as she was on the pitch and came from a different culture than most of her teammates. Through her love of food, Sabally learned about American culture and connected it with her own. The joy of cooking for her teammates helped her connect with them, introduce them to their culture, and learn more about the culture in the United States

“I like to cook once a week when I have my friends [around]. It’s a way to share my love for them and my culture. If you had any questions, I’d answer them, ”Sabally said. “Being open and talkative … getting in touch with people was a way for me to get in touch with [American] Culture.”

After three seasons at the Oregon Ducks, Sabally’s world got even bigger when she put her name in the 2020 WNBA Draft during the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 WNBA season was a big one for the players. Despite being a pandemic bubble year, the WNBA players showed unity and empowered each other to speak out on social issues.

“The WNBA is about equality. The WNBA fights for equality. This is what we stand for. It shows people how representative we are of the world and not just one country, ”said Sabally. “We have players from Australia, Germany, Belgium and many other countries. I think it’s cool when all these cultures collide and you have to function on the pitch. “

The WNBA will become more than just a basketball league, but a league that connects cultures and communities. Seven international players were drafted in the 2021 WNBA draft. As Prince Akeem of Coming to America said, “No trip is too big when you find something [they] “Many of these international players come to the US to become part of league culture. The WNBA and NBA have shown us how black culture is having a global impact on other cultures outside of the US when players from all over the world play these leagues join, this expands the culture to new and higher heights.

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