Landon Buford
Earlier this year, Warriors guard Steph Curry was asked how can athletes as a whole help push the WNBA forward.
“Celebrating what they are doing, what they have already done for years now, and what they are going to continue to do. They set a standard and a model on how a league activates and uses its voice and platforms on and off the court,” said Curry.
“They are very consistent with their stance on social justice, racial justice, and any issue they are passionate about. Collective energy amongst all the athletes, and we can all find ways to collaborate. Combine our worlds, reach, our resources to do [some] special things off the court. Impacting things going forward.”
The follow-up question was why he decided to shoot a CarMax commercial with WNBA legend Sue Bird.
“The CarMax thing with Sue [Bird] was a special fun opportunity to shout her out for all her successes and accolades & what she has done in her career,” Curry replied.
Tuesday night after the Seattle Storm secured their eleventh win of the season over the Indiana Fever. Sue Bird was asked to respond to Curry’s comments and, having the opportunity to work with Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony in her new commercial with Moët & Chandon Champagne.
“I think for me, when can represent a company that sees the value in women and also do it in a fun and humorous way. And I thought all the Carmax commercials basically check all of those boxes and obvious for Steph [Curry]. He is helping to change the conversation around women’s sports by taking part in that commercial by having the female athlete being ‘the normal’ in that scenario,” said Bird.
“Have them being spoken about in the way that I was spoken about, and that changes things. Small things like that helps change conversations and to have someone like Steph Curry be behind it. It means a lot in terms of women’s sports and its growth.”
As for her commercial with Moët & Chandon Champagne and Carmelo Anthony, Bird said,
“Being in it with Melo as well is just another example of that. So often, people compare male and female athletes, and it is always to paint the female athlete in the negative. So, again, it is really great that you have companies like Moët, Car Max; you have athletes like Steph Curry and Carmelo Anthony [who] are helping to change that. I cannot stress enough how important it is because we are usually painted in the negative when the comparison happens. So, when to be looked at on an even playing field or even in Car Max being propped up in a way. It does a lot for the growth.”
Sue would finish the game against the Fever with 17 points, three rebounds, and four assists in 26 minutes of play. The Storm and Fever will play again in Indiana on Thursday at 7pm EST.
