Though it’s widely acknowledged as an unfair comparison, the debate over male versus female athletes continues to persist. People often ask how the best players in the WNBA would perform in the NBA, how lower-tier male college basketball players might do in the WNBA, or which team would win in hypothetical matchups like McDonald’s All-Americans versus WNBA All-Stars or the USA women’s basketball team. These discussions are largely pointless and unnecessary but remain prevalent online and are expected to continue into 2025. Several well-known NBA players have recently addressed this topic in their podcasts, delivering blunt truths to WNBA athletes.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. and Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, both former top NBA draft picks, expressed that elite female players would likely be outmatched by top high school boys. This was discussed on the podcast “Ball in the Family.”
During the conversation, Porter Jr. and Ball emphasized that male basketball players, regardless of age, generally have an advantage over WNBA players. Porter Jr. shared his own experience playing with his sisters, who were college athletes, and practicing against WNBA players such as Sophie Cunningham. Ball added that even as a ninth grader, he believed he could have excelled in the WNBA, noting his height and athleticism at that age.
Porter Jr. strongly suggested that the ongoing debate is unnecessary, highlighting the natural differences between men’s and women’s basketball. He expressed a desire for the conversation to end, calling for more common sense in understanding the distinctions.
This article was initially reported by The Spun and appeared in the WNBA section on November 20, 2025.
Fan Take: For WNBA fans, this ongoing debate matters because it shines a light on the unique strengths and challenges within women’s basketball, underscoring the importance of appreciating the sport on its own merits. Moving forward, the WNBA’s growth and visibility could shift perceptions, helping the league garner the respect and recognition it deserves as a premier athletic competition.
