Cheryl Miller Speaks Out: The WNBA Needs Focus, Not Distractions

Legendary basketball player and women's hoops icon, Cheryl Miller, has no time for drama. Her words, aimed at Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, are clear and decisive. "I can't say I've given those two much thought lately," she begins, "because right now, we need to keep our focus on the court, not on outsiders trying to hijack our league." Miller, who would have welcomed both athletes at a WNBA game under different circumstances, is no longer interested. "I'd love to see them courtside, reminiscing about the good old days," she says, "but this sudden collective think tank? It needs to be shut down." The focus for Miller is squarely on the remaining games of the season. With playoffs just around the corner and teams fighting for home court advantage, her attention is solely on the action unfolding on the hardwood. "I'm fully invested," she declares, "with 13 games left in The Dub, the stakes are high. We need to focus on securing those playoff spots." However, Miller acknowledges that the transgender issue will need to be addressed at some point, but believes it's best to do so in a calm and considered manner. "I think we all need to take a step back," she says, "and have a collective conversation about this during the off-season." On the recent controversy surrounding DiJonai Carrington's hard foul on Sophie Cunningham, Miller is dismissive. "It's not a fiasco," she states, "it was a hard foul, she was ejected for it, and she wasn't suspended for the next game. Let's just move on." In Miller's eyes, the noise surrounding the WNBA is simply a sign of growing interest. "The silver lining," she says with a smile, "is that all eyes are on the W."