NEWS & STORIES

Los Angeles, 08.28.24

This evening courtside members of the LA Sparks, including Paper Rowte founders Kristen and Roxanne who led the act of solidarity for Dearica Hamby during the team’s first home game back in LA following the substantial fan booing she endured in Las Vegas on August 18, 2024.

This act of support directly responds to the troubling incident, which has sparked widespread conversation among fans, including notable figures like Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, who addressed the issue on their podcast, A Touch More. Many users on social media platforms like X, Instagram, and Reddit have also expressed their disapproval of the booing throughout the game.

As the WNBA continues to rise in prominence, this incident raises critical questions about the role and responsibilities of fans. As passionate supporters of the best league on the planet, we believe it's time to hold space amongst fans for a discussion on fan ethics and the boundaries that should guide our actions watching women’s sports.

Dearica Hamby is more than just a talented WNBA player—she’s a mother, an Olympic medalist, and a woman courageous enough to file a federal discrimination lawsuit against the WNBA and Las Vegas Aces. Our collective stance is to let the legal process unfold while offering unwavering support to women who stand up for their rights.

In celebration of Dearica, we wore “MOTHER” tees designed specifically for this occasion. This visual statement aims to not only support Dearica after the incident, but also to ignite a broader conversation about the standards we should uphold as fans.

We are calling our greater initiative “Fans Rise Up,” and we hope it inspires meaningful dialogue and change within the women’s sports community and beyond.

If “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports,” as the viral Togethxr tee denotes, then what is our responsibility as fans, and where do the boundaries lie to uphold the powerful and supportive social message?

As brand strategists and assistant teachers of social movement graduate studies, we know these hard questions need to be asked. Productive and open conversations among women’s sports fans and icons of sport need to take place. Women’s sports are the best type of sports in the world, with the best fans. We need to show up that way.