Growth is a word often used when describing the WNBA. And one way the league connects with fans is by allowing them to get to know the stars better, on and off the court.
That's the intent of “Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story,” which is a behind-the-scenes look, exclusive to Tubi, into the lives of WNBA MVPs: Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, Nneka Ogwumike of Los Angeles Sparks. and WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes.
Produced by MALKA in association with the WNBPA and Puma, this documentary is the first piece of its kind to feature some of the WNBA's greatest players.
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Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty during Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals on October 18, 2023 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
It is scheduled to stream on January 31 exclusively on Tubi.
“It was a lot of fun filming the documentary,” Jones, a four-time All-Star who won the WNBA MVP during the 2021 season, told Fox News Digital. “There was also a lot of work, making sure everyone was available and everything because we filmed it.” during the season. So, there were a lot of moving pieces.
“It was probably the first time that a group of people followed me so deeply. I had shorter pieces with the WNBA and other opportunities where people would come and spend like a day in the life. That was multiple filming sessions, different members of the family and the dog, you get a different perspective.”
Perspective is the key to this documentary.
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Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum spoke to Fox News Digital in November 2023 and explained that she believes there is no “big scoop on the superstardom of WNBA stars.” Leagues like the NBA market their stars to make them more identifiable to fans.
Jones took it a step further, believing that all WNBA players need to make their stories known.
“I think in the WNBA, sometimes, we go out of our way to connect with the superstars,” she explained. “But I think it leaves a little more to be desired in terms of hearing some of the other player stories in the league. I think it showed in the past that we had a certain budget, and we were just able to highlight certain players. Because of that, you probably saw a commercial every year and said, 'Okay, we've seen this commercial like 100 times.'
“When you have companies like MALKA invested and allowing us to bring our stories to the table and being able to do it the way we did this year, like I said before, having so many filming sessions and different perspectives and having so much material to be able to offer a great product will allow us to continue growing”.
“Shattered Glass” allows Jones to tell her story about how a 6-foot-6 forward from the Bahamas made a name for herself with the Connecticut Sun. But while fans can look at the stat sheets and draft record to see that, the documentary shows a more personal side to Jones that she usually keeps private.
Jonquel Jones, right, is interviewed after the New York Liberty won Game 3 of the 2023 WNBA Finals on October 15, 2023 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
“I think I'm a pretty funny person,” he said, laughing. “I think the documentary does a good job of showing my humor a little bit. It just allows me to open doors to people who have never seen that side of me. We filmed a little bit at my house, we got to know my dogs a little bit. And I'm a “I'm a pretty private person when it comes to social media and stuff. So I think it's nice to see that side of me and allow the fans to have that connection.”
College level players are also creating their own stardom thanks to NIL deals and the ability to promote themselves before turning pro.
But this documentary also shows the sacrifices that WNBA players are making. Many WNBA players play overseas during the offseason to supplement a relatively modest salary.
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“It's about reaching out to the public and making them see how many sacrifices we, as WNBA players, have to make to play at such a high level,” Jones said. “We also touched on that a little bit in the documentary, where most of the time we have to go abroad. I'm one of those players. I'm only in the US right now because I have a break. So, in a couple In a few weeks I will return to China.
New York Liberty's Jonquel Jones smiles during practice and media availability at the 2023 WNBA Finals on October 14, 2023 in Brooklyn, NY (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
“So we have those younger players coming in [with] those NIL deals, and they will be stars in our league. I hope this documentary sheds light on the sacrifices we are making now so that when they come into the league, they don't have to make those sacrifices. They can play in the summer and rehab their bodies and work on their games during the offseason and not have to commit to playing overseas.
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“I think shedding light on this will bring more of those conversations to the table and allow Caitlin Clarks and Angel Reeses to not have to do what we do.”
