The Cultivating Influences of Mass Media: Portrayals of Female Athletes in the WNBA
Location
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109
Event Website
https://2026undergraduateresearchsy.sched.com/event/2Ix7v/the-cultivating-influences-of-mass-media-portrayals-of-female-athletes-in-the-wnba
Start Date
15-4-2026 3:00 PM
End Date
15-4-2026 3:30 PM
Description
The differences in how male and female athletes are represented in the media have been a significant topic of scholarly interest for decades. My goals are to better understand how female athletes are positioned within the media landscape and how such portrayals may cultivate public perceptions of their athletic performance, because the sports community is powerful, influential, and historically dominated by masculine identities. This study extends the research conversation by examining the portrayal and coverage of female athletes on accounts/posts dedicated to women’s sports, especially the WNBA. This research is conducted through the observation and qualitative systematic content analysis of selected mass media messages including from traditional sports coverage and social media posts, from 2010 to 2026. My review includes a collection of influential and widely discussed official accounts (ESPN, WNBA, House of Highlights), posts covering women athletes such as Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Angel Reese, and user comments responding to said content. My findings revealed the lack of coverage by ESPN, sexualization of female athletes in comment sections, and hostility towards women in a sports setting. For instance, some say that Caitlin Clark is the only reason people watch women’s basketball, and that women’s sports are deemed irrelevant. Additionally my findings suggest women entering this space often face resistance, and instead of being viewed primarily as athletes, they are sexualized or have their athletic ability minimized. Female athletes thus must navigate the tension between being recognized as legitimate competitors in a male dominated environment while simultaneously maintaining their femininity.
Publication Date
2026
The Cultivating Influences of Mass Media: Portrayals of Female Athletes in the WNBA
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #109
The differences in how male and female athletes are represented in the media have been a significant topic of scholarly interest for decades. My goals are to better understand how female athletes are positioned within the media landscape and how such portrayals may cultivate public perceptions of their athletic performance, because the sports community is powerful, influential, and historically dominated by masculine identities. This study extends the research conversation by examining the portrayal and coverage of female athletes on accounts/posts dedicated to women’s sports, especially the WNBA. This research is conducted through the observation and qualitative systematic content analysis of selected mass media messages including from traditional sports coverage and social media posts, from 2010 to 2026. My review includes a collection of influential and widely discussed official accounts (ESPN, WNBA, House of Highlights), posts covering women athletes such as Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Angel Reese, and user comments responding to said content. My findings revealed the lack of coverage by ESPN, sexualization of female athletes in comment sections, and hostility towards women in a sports setting. For instance, some say that Caitlin Clark is the only reason people watch women’s basketball, and that women’s sports are deemed irrelevant. Additionally my findings suggest women entering this space often face resistance, and instead of being viewed primarily as athletes, they are sexualized or have their athletic ability minimized. Female athletes thus must navigate the tension between being recognized as legitimate competitors in a male dominated environment while simultaneously maintaining their femininity.
https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/urs_event/2026/oralpresentations/3