The Los Angeles Sparks gave the Connecticut Sun a run for their money in the first ever WNBA game played in Boston’s TD Garden arena on Tuesday night. Trailing in the third quarter, the Sparks reclaimed the lead scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter. But the Sun’s player of the game, DiJonai Carrington, didn’t back down, leading her team to clinch a 69-61 victory in the last four minutes of the game.
Despite falling short 61-69, the Sparks continue to demonstrate the growing popularity of the WNBA. Last night’s game marked the third highest attendance to a WNBA game this season with over 19,000 tickets sold and made history as the first ever professional women’s basketball game played at the TD Garden. Before the game, we talked with Sparks Guard Zia Cooke to hear how her experiences playing football as a young girl shaped and directed her sports career, and how redefining gender roles and what is considered “girly” is important for advancing women’s sports.
Don’t Put Her in a Box
Cooke is in her second season in the WNBA. Prior to her professional career, she played collegiately at the University of South Carolina as a four-year starter, helping her team win three conference titles and a national championship. She was a first round pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, selected by the Los Angeles Sparks, where she currently plays as a guard.
Sports offered Cooke an opportunity to express her authentic self growing up. Cooke is the youngest of two in her family and the only girl. Her mom wanted her to be “as girlie girl as possible,” signing Cooke up for sports considered “ladylike,” like cheerleading. But Cooke had other ideas. Inspired by watching her brother’s football practices, Cooke begged her mom to join the team until she finally said yes. “[With] football, I looked up to my brother and that was something he was doing and I just decided to follow his footsteps not even knowing the type of sport I was getting into,” Cooke says. “I was good at it, so I tried to do it for 3 years then I gave it up, but it’s definitely a sport that I love.”
“I don’t really care what anyone thinks; this is what I wanna do, so I just went on ahead and did it.”
Similar to the start of her football career, Cooke credits her brother for getting her into basketball. “To be honest, I really looked up to my brother when I was growing up. That was who helped me start playing basketball,” Cooke says. Basketball became Cooke’s main focus starting in middle school. She shined on her high school team, leading her team to a state championship and drawing national attention as one of the top recruits for her graduating class.
Her success on the basketball court can be drawn back to her days on the football field. “I think it helped me out a lot especially with just how tough I am, my quickness, and everything I’m able to do on the floor, the way I jump, all those types of things,” Cooke says. “I definitely think football contributed to my success and the player that I am.”
Unapologetically Herself
Cooke is someone who is truly herself on and off the court. Despite traditional gender stereotypes regarding cheerleading and football, Cooke followed her heart and found a sport she not only enjoyed playing, but also excelled at. Cooke shared her mindset with the New York Times. “I don’t really care what anyone thinks; this is what I wanna do, so I just went on ahead and did it.” Cooke’s story highlights the importance of challenging traditional gender roles in sports. By redefining the “norm,” we can dismantle harmful stereotypes that limit athletes based on their gender, including participation in sports and opportunities to excel.
Looking forward, Cooke is excited about the direction that the WNBA is headed. “The way the league is expanding, I’m seeing everybody get what they deserve, and we are getting stepping stones to what we truly deserve, but I’m seeing the steps being taken,” Cooke says. “To be a part of this new era with the WNBA is super special.”
Changemakers like Cooke are helping to show the world that traditional gender stereotypes no longer apply to women’s sports. We are entering a new era where women’s sports are getting the attention they deserve, WNBA teams are selling out arenas, and women athletes of all identities belong in professional sports.
