A new data point is fueling an already heated argument over how conservative media covers the WNBA. According to an analysis published by Awful Announcing, Fox News has aired at least 206 segments and devoted more than 13 hours of programming to the league since June 25, a figure originally compiled by Media Matters for America.
The number has since spread online, reigniting debate over whether the network’s coverage reflects genuine sports interest or something else entirely.
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Fans Call Out Fox News For Their WNBA Coverage
Fox News’ WNBA coverage began, according to the report, as commentary on the on-court physicality, hard fouls, ejections, and the heated stretch of games between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury in late June.
But the analysis found that after Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham‘s July 21 comments against the inclusion of transgender athletes from women’s sports, the tone and subject matter of Fox’s coverage shifted.
This caused a disproportionate share of segments to turn to commentary on transgender issues, allegedly using the WNBA as a backdrop.
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The debate over the 206-segment figure breaks down along familiar lines, and one X user argued the numbers reflect a broader pattern.
“They constantly looking for something to weaponize for the culture wars. If the wnba had actual leadership, this would’ve been taken care of years ago. When Kyrie had a silent comment on jews, they nipped it. When Morey said some [expletive] about China, they got at him quick [expletive].”
Other fans focused less on the volume of coverage than its content, with one X user arguing, “Fox News ran hateful, race-baiting and transphobic segments. They don’t care a lick about the actual WNBA.”
One X user, however, countered that the underlying subject matter still merits attention regardless of tone: “It’s a story that deserves coverage.”
One user even pushed back on the framing of the report itself, questioning why Fox News was singled out.
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He said, “So? How many segments have MS NOW or CNN run on them? What about NBC, ABC, or CBS run on them? Why is AA only cherry picking @FoxNews? Oh, right, because their writer has got their info from another left-wing rag. Got it. @ClayTravis and @Outkick may want to give this a look.”
Fox News has not issued a formal response to the figures or the report. The core question of real interest or culture-war strategy, however, remains unanswered, and the reactions to the stats show no sign of resolving it either way.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
