00:00 Hi Glamour, I'm a professional basketball player,
00:02 Sabrina Inescu, and today I'm gonna be debunking
00:04 some myths about women's basketball.
00:06 (upbeat music)
00:09 So there are three categories of questions,
00:15 some about the WNBA, some about the sport of basketball,
00:18 and some about identity.
00:19 (upbeat music)
00:22 Female players are paid less than male players.
00:24 This is true, the NBA base salary is a lot higher
00:28 than the WNBA base salary.
00:30 Obviously the goal is for women to continue
00:33 to get paid more and doing what we can,
00:35 using our platforms to advocate for change
00:38 and continuing to try and grow the game.
00:40 WNBA players aren't as aggressive on the court
00:43 as NBA players.
00:45 That is not true.
00:47 Every player is different, so I think some players
00:49 play with more aggression, some play more finesse,
00:51 it's really dependent on the player,
00:52 not necessarily what league you play in.
00:54 I believe some WNBA players are more aggressive
00:57 on the court than NBA players.
00:59 I would say I'm more aggressive.
01:00 I like to take the contact, give contact as well,
01:03 and try and finish through it.
01:05 Playing internationally is more profitable
01:06 than playing in the US.
01:08 This also just depends who you are
01:10 and where you go internationally.
01:11 A lot of players do go to certain cities
01:15 that do pay more than in the league,
01:16 but it just depends the type of player you are
01:18 and what point you are in your career.
01:20 A lot of the younger players could potentially
01:22 make more money overseas, and some of the older players
01:25 do decide to stay because they make enough money here.
01:27 It's easier to make three-porters in the WNBA
01:29 because the line is closer.
01:31 I don't think so.
01:33 Obviously, we play with a smaller ball
01:35 and the line's a little bit closer,
01:37 but I shoot from behind the line anyway,
01:40 so I don't think it's much of a difference.
01:42 It's what we've grown up playing on that court
01:44 with that three-point line, and so I don't think
01:46 it makes it easier or harder.
01:48 I think it's just what you're used to
01:49 and how you've been able to train.
01:51 My tip would be you have to be really good
01:53 around the basket, so you gotta work on form shots
01:56 and make sure that you're good from the free throw line
01:58 in order to be great from the three-point line.
02:00 The basketball program you attend in college
02:02 determines how successful you would be in the WNBA.
02:06 I don't think this is true.
02:07 I think it plays a part in your development in college
02:10 and being able to play at the highest level in college
02:12 against some of the players you're gonna be playing
02:14 in the league for sure helps,
02:16 but I don't think it's the end-all, be-all
02:18 on how great of a player you're gonna be in the WNBA.
02:21 Let's move on with questions about the sport of basketball.
02:24 You have to be over six feet to dunk.
02:27 I think it helps, but I don't think you have
02:30 to be over six feet to dunk.
02:31 I'm not sure I've met anyone under six feet
02:34 that dunk in the WNBA, but I do know
02:37 it has happened in the NBA, so I think it's really
02:39 just a matter of how athletic you are
02:41 and how high you can jump, not necessarily how tall you are.
02:43 You're under this pressure to dunk at such a young age.
02:46 There are a lot of players that do dunk.
02:47 There's some players that dunk in-game,
02:49 but I don't think there's much of a pressure.
02:51 It's the same amount of points as a layup.
02:53 It's just a lot flashier.
02:54 Playing offense is more difficult than playing defense.
02:58 That's not true.
02:59 I believe they're both really difficult.
03:00 It's just a different skill set.
03:02 Obviously, offense, you're trying to get the ball
03:04 in the basket, and so there's a lot more skill
03:07 and technique that goes into it.
03:08 On defense, it's more of a team defense,
03:11 especially in basketball.
03:12 You have to rely on the people behind the ball,
03:15 your post players.
03:16 Communication is super important on defense
03:18 just because you're not seeing what's happening behind you.
03:20 Usually, the arenas are really loud,
03:22 so it takes all five people on the court
03:24 talking in unison to be able to get the job done.
03:27 Let's go, Liberty.
03:32 That works every time.
03:37 I'm ready to go.
03:38 Shooting is the most important skill
03:40 to master in basketball.
03:42 I think it just depends on the type of player you are.
03:44 If you're a big man down low,
03:46 usually shooting doesn't need to be your most important skill.
03:49 Your most important skill needs to be
03:50 finishing around the basket.
03:52 And if you're a guard, sometimes that
03:53 could be point guard skills and handling the ball.
03:55 For me, passing is one of my most important skills.
03:59 Being able to get my teammates open
04:00 just creates a threat for the opposing team
04:03 if I'm not shooting the ball well
04:05 or if I'm guarded really hard.
04:06 It's really nice to be able to use my passing ability
04:08 to help my team win.
04:10 Growing up, you have to play on an AAU team
04:13 to play D1 in college.
04:15 I don't think you necessarily have to play on an AAU team.
04:17 Obviously, I think it helps because on the AAU circuit,
04:20 a lot of the times is when there's college viewing
04:23 tournaments and college coaches are coming in attendance
04:26 to watch a lot of the teams.
04:27 So I would say most of the time, 99% of the time,
04:31 a player that goes to college has played AAU basketball
04:33 because it's year round and you're always playing
04:36 against the best competition in the country.
04:38 I think the more you can be playing basketball
04:39 and be seen on the highest level
04:41 and playing against the best competition,
04:43 always the better.
04:44 You shouldn't wear a rival player's signature shoe.
04:48 Well, if you're a signature athlete, you definitely can't,
04:51 but if you are not, I believe it's up to you.
04:54 A lot of players wear their favorite player's shoe
04:57 because they want to represent them and support them,
04:59 but I've seen players wear all kinds of shoes.
05:02 I've worn every single player's shoe
05:04 at some point in my career,
05:05 and I think the more shoes you could wear, the better
05:08 because you're able to see what you like on your feet.
05:10 There's so much technology built in these shoes
05:12 that I think it's just dependent on what you like
05:14 and what helps you the most on the court.
05:16 Now I'll have some questions about the identity
05:18 in the sport.
05:19 Female athletes are all tomboys.
05:23 No, this is not true.
05:25 I feel like everyone has the opportunity
05:27 to be who they want to be.
05:29 Basketball has definitely opened my eyes
05:31 to just being able to see how so many individuals
05:34 are able to express themselves, and across all sports,
05:37 I think that's been the power of sport
05:38 is just being true to who you are,
05:40 and whether that's a tomboy, a girly girl,
05:43 I don't think it really matters.
05:44 If you aren't at least six foot,
05:46 you probably won't be successful in the WNBA.
05:49 This is not true.
05:50 There's so many players under six foot
05:52 that have had amazing careers.
05:54 I don't think it's a matter of height.
05:56 It's really just a matter of will
05:57 and wanting to be great and putting the work in.
06:00 Obviously, if you're very, very short,
06:02 I think it could put you at a disadvantage,
06:04 but if you're really fast and quick and have great skillset,
06:07 I don't think it really matters how tall you are
06:10 as long as you have the skills
06:12 to be able to be a great basketball player.
06:14 Female athletes don't have as much swag as male athletes.
06:18 I think female athletes have more swag sometimes
06:21 than male athletes because they are able
06:24 to express themselves however they want,
06:26 and I don't think it really matters
06:28 whether you're a female or a male.
06:29 I think it's just being who you wanna be
06:31 and representing that on and off the court.
06:34 The Liberty is a swaggy team.
06:36 Pre-game fits, everyone always comes,
06:38 does not disappoint, everyone's in their best outfit,
06:41 especially since we're in New York.
06:42 I feel like you have to come ready for the game.
06:45 The WNBA has only been around for 20 plus years,
06:49 and so it's still growing and evolving,
06:51 but I would say, especially in New York here,
06:54 at Barclays Center, we had 11,000 plus fans the other night,
06:57 and so women's sports is definitely up and coming,
06:59 but teams and players are definitely wanting to come here
07:02 because of the fan base that we have
07:04 supporting women's basketball.
07:05 Thanks so much for watching, and I'll see you on the court.
07:08 Bye, and go Liberty.
07:09 (upbeat music)
07:12 you
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