WNBA fans couldn’t help poking fun at Michael Porter Jr. after old comments surfaced about him scrimmaging against the Missouri women’s team back in seventh and eighth grade. MPJ said he felt he could “hang with them” and even “take over,” and the internet didn’t exactly let that slide.
The jokes resurfaced right as the USA Women’s National Team announced its 18-player training camp roster — a group loaded with star power. Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Aliyah Boston, Brittney Griner, Cameron Brink, and Angel Reese were among the names that immediately lit up social media.
Fans were impressed, but they also used the moment to fire back at MPJ.
One fan said, “Where’s Michael Porter jr?”
Another wrote, “USA really said: ‘Let’s assemble the Avengers’”
A third added, “The conduit of American college players being good enough to play for USA.”
The camp runs from December 12 to 14 as the USWNT looks ahead to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin. Managing director Sue Bird will be evaluating what lineup gives them the best chance at a fifth straight gold.
“Why should he downplay that to push women’s basketball?”: WNBA fans side with MPJ amid debate
Porter Jr.’s remarks about the physicality in the women’s game didn’t just get fans talking — they sparked mixed reactions from players, too. Sophie Cunningham backed MPJ, saying she’d scrimmaged against him in the past and knew what he meant.
Angel McCoughtry, though, took the opposite stance and challenged the idea that women’s basketball lacks physicality. She also pointed out how the NBA’s biggest names have historically reacted to the women’s game.
“If you notice real quick, the elites—Kobe—don’t say this kind of stuff about us. He never did. He only uplifted us and supported us. Bron doesn’t talk like that. Why don’t the elites talk like that?” McCoughtry said.
Some fans appreciated her message, even if they didn’t fully agree.
One wrote, “I respect this opinion tho she’s saying don’t bring them down you should uplift them… at least she isn’t biased saying what he’s saying is wrong she’s just saying they deserve respect for what there doing.”
Another fan added, “I stand with MPJ—Fact is, men’s varsity high school teams could beat WNBA teams…”
Whether MPJ intended it or not, his old comments ended up sparking another round of debate around the women’s game — and fans aren’t done talking about it.
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.
