How My College Basketball Coach Rewrote the Rules of Power—And Why WNBA Stars Are Silent Protesters Too

The Court That Taught Me Leadership

I still remember my college coach in Brooklyn—not some retired NBA veteran, but a Black-Irish woman who ran drills like poetry. ‘You don’t play to win,’ she’d say. ‘You play to shift the weight.’ Back then, we didn’t talk about points or rebounds—we talked about who got to speak when no one else would. That was my first lesson in power: it’s not loud. It’s quiet.

The Rumor That Wasn’t a Rumor

They’re saying the Lakers and Jazz are trading for John Collins? Fine. But here’s what they’re not saying: this isn’t about stats. It’s about signaling. A 62.8% shooter who averages 18.9 points and 8.2 boards? He’s a system player—the kind who makes space for others to rise. And while the headlines chase his contract, WNBA stars are rewriting the rules from within—with jersey numbers as protest signs.

The Silent Protest

I watched A’ja Wilson drop 30 points last Friday not to celebrate her own dominance—but because she knew her silence was louder than any chant on Twitter. This isn’t fantasy basketball—it’s applied feminism in motion. When the media ignores her impact, she doesn’t beg for attention—she designs it.

The Data Behind the Drama

Look at the numbers: WNBA players average higher usage rates in leadership moments than their NBA peers—but get 40% less coverage in broadcast deals. Yet their Instagram Stories? Loaded with community polls that say: ‘What does true leadership look like on the court?’

Your Turn Now

Who gets to rewrite power when no one is watching? Who speaks when silence is currency? Your voice might be next.