Even After 3 Years, Paige Bueckers Continues to Get Flamed For Her Speech on White Privilege

Many fans applaud Paige Bueckers for using her platform in the most positive manner. Three years ago during the ESPY awards, Bueckers made a heartfelt address to the crowd about representation for Black athletes after winning Best Female College Athlete Award. Though most fans have praised Bueckers for standing her ground, she has received a few glaring reactions from fans for reiterating on her take.

During the Dallas Wings' media day presser and in an interview with the Time Magazine as well, the No.1 pick of the 2025 WNBA draft once again reiterated how she believes African American women are underrepresented in the media.

Paige Bueckers says that she feels strongly about her statement to Time Magazine given her upbringing, helping her become more aware in the process. Paige's stepmother, who is African American, helped her get a different perspective of the world, which made her believe how black women deserve more media representation. However, some fans might not think it's the best time for Paige to make such statements. Let's find out what they have to say.

Fans Show Resentment For Paige Bueckers ‘Potentially’ Swaying Focus From Her Rookie Year

Though Paige Bueckers is using her platform in the best manner possible, seems like it doesn't make some of the WNBA fans happy about the same. As athletes, the WNBA players take the opportunity to stand for all causes that are right. But fans think Paige is digressing from her focus for her rookie season. One fan writes, “Is this Paige’s entire personality…? She’s a professional basketball player. Sis doesn’t need to keep addressing this. It’s boring. The point has been made.”

Another fan highlights Paige's stand in social justice to mock her as Martin Luther King Jr. They write, “Martin Luther Paige strikes again! Why don’t y’all inquire about if she’s planning on averaging over 10ppg this szn. She’s supposed to be carrying a franchise.”

However, some fans have supported Paige against such criticism as well. One fan says, “That makes no sense, if you want to stick up for something you strongly believe in you keep talking about it to bring awareness to it.”

Another fan highlights the hypocrisy of the media to only ask her about this question during pressers. The fan says, “It's ridiculous that the media keeps talking to this white girl about how uncovered her Black teammates are.”

Honestly, what it seems like is the fans are mostly upset with the media making a huge ordeal out of Paige's statement. The fans have been vocal in calling out the media, wondering their continuous approach to create chatter around Paige's statements. However, it's quite a breather to see Paige not back down from her stance and truly standing to what she believes in.