Earlier this month, the documentary film “Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story,” premiered in New York and is now available free on Tubi, a streaming platform. It not only provides insight into the lives of WNBA stars Breanna Stewart, Nneka Ogwumike and Jonquel Jones, but also into the vital role the WNBPA (Women’s National Basketball Players Association) plays in advocating for compensation, benefits, and accommodations.
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson wanted to see the players’ stories amplified. When the opportunity arose to make a documentary with the production company MALKA, the fit felt natural.
“I knew they would do it in a way that wouldn’t compromise the players and all that they wanted to say and would only uplift them in their lives on the court and off the court,” said Carmichael Jackson. “This is the first, but not the last [film].”
Stewart is the reigning WNBA MVP and Jones and Ogwumike are past MVPs. WNBPA President Ogwumike is shown throughout the film handling that role and weighing in on the players’ collective bargaining agreement. Issues such as salaries, childcare, charter flights and schedules are thoughtfully presented as each of the players shares aspects about their personal lives.
“We wanted to think about what the archetypes are within a league like the W,” said director Andrea Buccilla. Stewart, who joined the New York Liberty in 2023, gives voice to players in the league who are mothers and Ogwumike is an advocate for many issues. Jones is the hustler, doing her utmost to build a life with her fiancée while also trying to maximize her earning potential.
“[Jones] was league MVP in 2021, and yet she still struggles to get marketing deals, and that was an important angle for us to cover because that is unfortunately too common of a story within the league,” said Buccilla.
Three-time MVP Sheryl Swoopes, part of the Houston Comets team that won the first four WNBA championships, represents the retired players, giving perspective not only on the league’s past but also the present reality of some veterans.
“These are three [current] dynamos who are telling their stories not in a ‘woe is me’ kind of format, but in a way that their lives resonate with everyone,” said Carmichael Jackson. “They need to be celebrated because they’re so inspiring and empowering.”