This is not a fair or appropriate conversation, but the comparisons between male and female athletes continue.
How would a top WNBA player fare in the NBA? How would a low-level men’s college basketball player fare in the WNBA? Who would win in a game between the McDonald’s All-Americans and the WNBA All-Stars, or the United States women’s basketball team?
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These are pointless, pointless conversations, but they’re happening all over the internet. And they continue in 2025. Several prominent NBA stars addressed the subject in a podcast, sending a harsh truth to WNBA players.
The debate around the game continues. (Photo by Dylan Goodman/NBAE via Getty Images)Dylan Goodman/Getty Images
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. and Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, both former top NBA draft picks, say top female players wouldn’t stand a chance against top male high school players.
The conversation took place during an episode of the “Ball in the Family” podcast.
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NBA players weigh in on the debate
Porter Jr. and Ball talked about how young a top men’s basketball player can be and still have a chance against WNBA players.
“I’m probably going to 8th grade because I have some real experience at it. I played against my sisters. They played at the University of Missouri and I was still a young kid. They had me play on the scout team, and they had a few WNBA players on their team, like Sophie Cunningham and a few others. I was in 7th or 8th grade and I was going crazy,” Porter said.
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Ball, meanwhile, agreed, saying that he himself, in 9th grade, could have played in the WNBA.
“I say this as respectfully as possible, but 9th-year WNBA Lonzo Ball is going crazy,” Zo said, speaking in the third person.
“In 9th grade, I was over 6 feet tall and I was dunking. I’m crossing the lane. No girl in the WNBA does that. I’m going from behind, throwing it, looking like (Michael) Jordan over there.”
Porter, meanwhile, says there’s simply a big difference. There is no need for such debates.
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“It’s just a difference, and I wish it would stop being a conversation because it should be common sense. I appreciate common sense. I feel like sometimes we’re losing it a little bit,” Porter said.
This story was originally reported by The yarn on November 20, 2025, where he first appeared in the WNBA section. Add The Spun as Favorite source by clicking here.
