Many of the league’s top players, including several who will be playing in this weekend’s All-Star game in Minnesota, have come out over the past few years — and it has not generated the headlines it once did. The players see themselves not as just basketball role models for young women, but hope they are also making it easier for younger players who may be struggling with their sexuality.
WNBA players’ sexual orientation was rarely publicly discussed when the league first started, but now it is embraced and topics like same-sex marriage and child care are commonplace.
“It helps so much when you have players on our level come out and tell our story,” said the 6-foot-8 Griner, who came out when she turned pro.