Kevin Durant didn’t mince words at Houston Rockets media day Tuesday. He straight up said he doesn’t “give a f-” about the political noise swirling around women’s basketball, making it clear his focus is on the sport’s purity and growth. It’s a bold stance, but considering the WNBA’s record-breaking season, it’s hard to argue with the guy.
KD’s Stance Versus Kanter’s Circus Show
Durant has been a long-time supporter of women’s basketball, always showing up at WNBA games and even partnering with Nike to launch an NIL program at the University of Texas, making college phenom Madison Booker a signature athlete for Nike’s KD brand. So when he dismissed the ongoing controversies, he wasn’t just talking. He’s been living it. “A lot of that stuff, the politics that they bring into sports nowadays, I understand the messaging behind what they’re trying to do, but a person like me who just strictly cares about the purity of the sport, I do not give a f- about none of that,” Durant declared. “I care about them flourishing and pushing the league forward and that’s what’s happening right now.”
That’s a direct shot, no doubt, at his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Enes Kanter Freedom, who’s been making headlines for a different reason. Kanter, who played 11 NBA seasons, actually declared himself eligible for the WNBA draft. Yeah, you read that right. He sat courtside at a Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever game wearing a shirt that screamed, “Woman noun: adult human female,” and got himself ejected after arguing with a player and stepping onto the court. Kanter wasn’t shy about firing back on social media either, posting, “Kevin Durant, since when did protecting women become political?” It’s clear these two are on totally different pages.
The WNBA’s Explosive Growth Speaks For Itself
Here’s the kicker: Durant’s argument for the WNBA flourishing isn’t just talk, the numbers back him up big time. The league is absolutely booming, more popular than it has ever been before. Think about this: the Las Vegas Aces sold for a mere $2 million in 2021. Fast forward to now, and Tilman Fertitta just shelled out $300 million to buy the Connecticut Sun and move them to Houston for the 2027 season. That’s a staggering jump!
Players aren’t missing out either. They just inked a new collective-bargaining agreement this year that brought in the biggest salary increase from one CBA to the next in any professional sport. And the fans? A record 3.5 million people have already attended WNBA games this season, with two more days left in the regular season. Powerhouses like Caitlin Clark, A’Ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink are all signing massive endorsement deals with major brands off the court. Durant put it perfectly: “All that (political talk) is just noise, man. The WNBA is flourishing. Look at what these women are doing. Look at the money they’ve made over the last few years. Look at the visibility of their league. They’ve got four or five signature athletes that are representing major brands. These women have brands for themselves, are businesswomen for themselves outside of the game.”
With a record 3.5 million fans already tuning in this season and major financial moves happening, the WNBA is clearly charting its own course. The real story isn’t the sideline noise, it’s how much bigger this league can get, and how quickly it’s going to happen.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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