Michelle Obama didn’t mince words when talking about the WNBA and its treatment of legends like Candace Parker. On the All The Smoke podcast, the former First Lady expressed frustration over the pay disparity that still shadows the league.
“They’ve come a long way. Things have changed… But we just had a great conversation with Candace Parker, and to be reminded of how hard things were. … She was and is one of the greats. The fact that she will not experience the fruits of her outstanding athletic ability is sad. Why? Because she’s a woman. It’s ridiculous.”
Obama’s point: even icons don’t receive the respect, rest, or reward their talents deserve—simply because they’re women. She noted that many WNBA players must play overseas during the offseason just to make ends meet, while taking nearly no time off to recover their bodies.
That spotlight on Candace Parker, who had to chase paychecks abroad while raising kids and enduring the physical grind, cast a harsh light on league inequities. Michelle Obama urged faster, smarter change—even as the league’s popularity surges.
She also highlighted the stark revenue split: NBA players take home about 49–51%, while WNBA athletes get just 9–10%. Michelle Obama called it “unacceptable,” saying fans are shouting “Pay Them” at games, and the power brokers need to listen—or risk losing equity and momentum.
Michelle Obama isn’t just cheering from the sidelines—she’s using her voice to demand the respect and fairness second only to the hardest hussle on the court. And her caller? It’s time to meet it.
Michelle Obama’s Brother, Craig Robinson, Reflects on Battling Michael Jordan
When it comes to hoops, the Obamas know their story—and Michelle’s brother, Craig Robinson, has a front-row seat. On the same All The Smoke podcast, he looked back on the time he worked out with Michael Jordan after MJ had retired.
“Once [Jordan] retired, he needed some guys to quietly start working out with. … We would do workouts with him, and that’s when he cooked me. And I mean, cooked me! He was very serious about what he was doing.”
Robinson’s tale captures the iconic drive and intensity MJ brought even to practice. It’s a sharp contrast to @satire-free celebrity reps. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama was laying down truth about pay and respect for athletes who fought just as hard, but didn’t get the same break.
Through it all, the Obamas show two sides of greatness: Craig’s hustle under pressure, and Michelle’s push for fairness in the fight for equal pay and legacy. Between courthouses and courtside, they bring heart to headlines.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
