[Mick]

Hmm, I'm trying to think about how I've referred to WBB and WVB players over the years, and while I do think I refer to more of them by first names than I have with men's players, it also seems to be largely tied to how long (or complicated, or unusual for a white american) the name is. Like, yeah, I call Tara Tara, but Vanderveer is way longer to type or say (but I don't recall ever referring to, for example, Pat Summit as Pat). With players, I certainly said Nneka instead of Oguwmike, or Foluke instead of Akinradewo, but I never referred to Cynthia Barboza as Cynthia or Nicole Powell as just Nicole. Maybe it's like with my friends, where I often default to a last name (or a nickname version of it) if it's easier or fun to say (Barboza is definitely fun to say).

There are also men's athletes that I definitely use the first name for when talking about them with my friends. Toby and Stepfan (of course, that's because I like pronouncing it wrong), or Robin and Brook back in the day. On the current football team I'll almost always say "JJ" or "Trenton" instead of Arcega-Whiteside or Irwin. No idea why (Arcega-Whiteside is long and Trenton is fun to say, maybe?). I actually refer to a decent number of professional athletes by their first name too (like Patty instead of Marleau).

So yeah, I have no idea why I do it one way or the other, and it seems I use first names more often with female players/coaches, but not exclusively.

Semi-related, I've been called by my last name by the vast majority of my friends (both male and female) since pretty much high school (including friends from completely different groups). Same with one of my brothers (which makes it confusing if we're in a group that mixes my friends and his friends), but not with my oldest brother. Maybe it's some weird age thing.

Maybe your first name is too hard to pronounce...  :D

[Mick]

Hmm, I'm trying to think about how I've referred to WBB and WVB players over the years, and while I do think I refer to more of them by first names than I have with men's players, it also seems to be largely tied to how long (or complicated, or unusual for a white american) the name is. Like, yeah, I call Tara Tara, but Vanderveer is way longer to type or say (but I don't recall ever referring to, for example, Pat Summit as Pat). With players, I certainly said Nneka instead of Oguwmike, or Foluke instead of Akinradewo, but I never referred to Cynthia Barboza as Cynthia or Nicole Powell as just Nicole. Maybe it's like with my friends, where I often default to a last name (or a nickname version of it) if it's easier or fun to say (Barboza is definitely fun to say).

There are also men's athletes that I definitely use the first name for when talking about them with my friends. Toby and Stepfan (of course, that's because I like pronouncing it wrong), or Robin and Brook back in the day. On the current football team I'll almost always say "JJ" or "Trenton" instead of Arcega-Whiteside or Irwin. No idea why (Arcega-Whiteside is long and Trenton is fun to say, maybe?). I actually refer to a decent number of professional athletes by their first name too (like Patty instead of Marleau).

So yeah, I have no idea why I do it one way or the other, and it seems I use first names more often with female players/coaches, but not exclusively.

Semi-related, I've been called by my last name by the vast majority of my friends (both male and female) since pretty much high school (including friends from completely different groups). Same with one of my brothers (which makes it confusing if we're in a group that mixes my friends and his friends), but not with my oldest brother. Maybe it's some weird age thing.

Maybe your first name is too hard to pronounce...  :D