Page 20 - aruba-today-20170223

A20 SPORTS
Thursday 23 February 2017
Candice Wiggins says her WNBA

experience was “toxic”

The Associated Press nothing left to prove,” and But next time, I hope you
Candice Wiggins said her gave “all the gas in (her) ask your journalist to inter-
experience playing in the tank.”“I wanted to play two view someone else who
WNBA was “toxic” and was more seasons of WNBA, but was there with you,” Boy-
a major reason why she re- the experience didn’t lend ette wrote. “I ask that you
tired last season. itself to my mental state,” use real statistics. I ask that
In an interview with The Wiggins said in the interview you not try to out other
San Diego Union-Tribune , with the newspaper. “It was women. I ask that you try
Wiggins said the culture in a depressing state in the not to defame a league
the league was “very, very WNBA. It’s not watched. that gave you your plat-
harmful” and that she was Our value is diminished. It form, whether you like it or
targeted throughout her can be quite hard. I didn’t not. I ask that you remem-
career for being heterosex- like the culture inside the ber your sisters, your fellow
ual and popular. WNBA, and without reveal- WNBA stars, the young girls
Wiggins said that she was ing too much, it was toxic coming up after you. The
treated poorly because she for me.” Current and for- WNBA is about inclusion, al-
was straight. The 30-year- mer WNBA players were ways has been and always
old Stanford graduate said empathetic to Wiggins, but will be.” Boyette is from Los
she was bullied from the also disputed her claims in Angeles and was a huge
time she was drafted by social media posts. fan of Wiggins growing up.
Minnesota. Imani Boyette, who just fin- “Reading that article hurt
“Me being heterosexual ished her rookie year with me first and foremost be-
and straight, and being the Chicago Sky, posted cause I don’t want anyone
vocal in my identity as a a lengthy blog on Wiggins’ to be bullied but more im-
straight woman was huge,” comments. portant, I understood the
In this July 16, 2015, file photo, New York Liberty guard Candice
Wiggins brings the ball up during the team’s WNBA basketball Wiggins said. “I don’t want to silence you bigger implications of the
game against the Connecticut Sun in New York. At the time she retired last Candice. I hope we can article,” Boyette told The
Associated Press year, Wiggins told The Asso- have an open dialogue Associated Press in a text.
ciated Press that she “had about your experiences. q