Hall of Fame member Tina Thompson joined Candace Parker as a special guest on “Post Moves.” During her guest appearance, Thompson highlighted one of the key differences between WNBA and NBA players. According to her, WNBA players sometimes react more emotionally, and this distinction is one of the things that separate the two leagues.

She then asked the league’s stars to have more control of their emotions, which would help the WNBA’s growth.

Tina Thompson Thinks WNBA Players Are Too Emotional Compared to NBA Players

Over the past few years, the WNBA has experienced rapid growth in several areas. Naturally, that growth has led to more attention to each individual player. That attention has also brought more critical assessment, cynicism, and scrutiny.

Thompson, a four-time champion with the now-defunct Houston Comets, shared Wednesday on “Post Moves” that the way players respond to these will affect the league’s growth. She also compared it to how NBA players respond to criticism.

According to her, better emotional control will be key to helping the league become a billion-dollar industry.

“Billion-dollar decisions are not emotional,” she said. “So as WNBA players, commentators, fans, or whatever, we have to stop being so emotional.”

She added that there is no issue with having opinions as long as it’s not “rooted in malice.”

“Accept it, move on, disagree. I don’t want to hear you talking about my mom,” she continued, drawing laughter.

Parker then interjected, saying that such comments attract people. However, both agreed it’s laughable, with Parker saying, “I think it’s ridiculous.”

“If we want to be paid a certain way, if we want to be treated a certain way, then we have to start acting according to those statements,” Thompson then said. “If you’re going to compare one of our greats to one of their greats, those guys receive a lot of backlash and things are being said about them. They’re not emotional about it.”

Thompson was one of the WNBA’s pioneers, joining the league in its inaugural season in 1997. She was drafted first overall by the Comets, and she helped lead them to glory.

Alongside fellow Hall of Famers Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper, they were crowned the league’s first-ever champions. Their run at the top of the league would not stop there. They would win three more consecutive titles, becoming the first and only team in league history to accomplish a four-peat.

Thompson would also go on to play three seasons for the Los Angeles Sparks from 2009 to 2011. She ended her WNBA career with a two-year stint with the Seattle Storm from 2012 to 2013.

She was named to nine All-Star teams and made eight All-WNBA teams over her 17-year career. In 2018, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside NBA greats such as Maurice Cheeks, Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen, and Steve Nash.