U.S. women's players hope gay stigma disappears from men's basketball

The NBA as an organization has taken a firm stand in support of LGBT rights -most recently with its decision to move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte because of North Carolina's discriminatory bathroom bill - but several WNBA players currently competing for Team USA in Rio told USA Today's Sam Amick that they feel there's still a serious stigma surrounding homosexuality in men's basketball.

"That's a subject that is so taboo in men's sports, (where) if you bring up anything gay they run out of the room like it's a virus," said Diana Taurasi, the longtime Phoenix Mercury guard representing the U.S. in her fourth Olympics. "I feel like that's just something that as you grow up, as you mature, those are the things that you accept as a human being that people are different. Whether it's sexuality, whether it's race, whether it's religion, as you get older and as you become a smarter person, you'd think you would look at things differently."

Reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne publicly came out just before the start of the Olympics, and the revelation seemingly hasn't changed her life much - something she believes wouldn't be the case for a male player.

"A lot of support. It's been really nothing too crazy, which is great," she said of her own experience. "That's where I hope our society moves to, where it's not a story. It's normal.

"I would love to see that (sort of support in the NBA), if there are any (gay men). No one should have to hide who they are."

There are no openly gay players currently active in the NBA. Referee Bill Kennedy came out this past season, but only after being the target of homophobic slurs from point guard Rajon Rondo (who was suspended by the league for one game). The first and last active NBAer to come out was Jason Collins in 2013.

"It must be hard for them to know that they walk into the locker room having to put a facade on every day," Taurasi said.

"I would love to see more (come out) on the men's side, more players feel comfortable to come out," said Taurasi's Mercury teammate Brittney Griner, who - along with Delle Donne - is one of four openly gay WNBAers. "But I also understand it because as a player, I've been that person where it's really hard to come out. ... You're worried about not being accepted, being rejected, being cast out."

"I think on the men's side, they're not quite there yet," said Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird. "Jason Collins, for him to do that, particularly in the basketball world, he was the one who kind of broke down the barrier. And maybe in the future, it'll change. But I think right now there's still that stigma."

While things appear to be moving in the right direction, Taurasi expressed doubt that the stigma will disappear any time soon.

"I mean (being gay) is just taboo," she said. "It's something that I feel like a lot of those guys think is a weakness, and they look down upon it. That's a lot of upbringing. A lot of that is religion, so I think once they get past those things maybe in the future."