By Amy Tennery
INDIANAPOLIS, July 18 (Reuters)
The WNBA has come under scrutiny recently following calls for the league to reconsider the demanding schedule that the players have to contend with throughout a season. In most sports, professional athletes are handsomely rewarded for their exploits. And as a result, the vast majority of the public thinks the players are overpaid. If you ask most fans of basketball, they would play for free on the biggest stage in sports. One thing that we forget is that the players need to keep their bodies in top shape in order to contend with the demanding schedule of a professional athlete. Now the WNBA stars have called for fewer games in a season.
WNBA demanding schedule comes under fire from players
WNBA players on Friday called for a reassessment of the league’s demanding schedule, highlighting injury concerns after three players, including Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark, were ruled out of this weekend’s All-Star Game. Clark, the wildly popular All-Star team captain, was expected to be one of the biggest attractions for the WNBA showcase in her home market of Indianapolis, but said on Thursday she would sit it out after suffering a groin injury this week.
The league scrambled to bring in replacements after Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard and Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally also withdrew, marking the latest in a string of injuries affecting top players this season. “Obviously, everyone here plays a heavy amount of minutes, and so I think trying to better space out the games is something that we’re trying to talk about,” said Sabrina Ionescu, who captains the defending champions, New York Liberty.
“Lengthening the season and not having four games a week with 10-player or 9-player rosters … I think is something that could help.” – Sabrina Ionescu
Meeting between WNBA and players’ union does not produce results
The issue was raised during a meeting on Thursday between the players’ union and the league, players said, as they work to iron out a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) before the 2026 season. With new club Golden State Valkyries debuting this year, the WNBA expanded teams’ schedules to 44 games, up from 40. Two more clubs join next year, and another three are expected by 2030.
“So many games back-to-back or every other day for two weeks – I know everybody went through a rough stretch of that,” said Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young, speaking at the All-Star podium days after sustaining a hip injury in a game against the Dallas Wings.
“It’s important that we’re able to get the amount of rest that we need.” – Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young
Players have long faced exhaustion due to competing in other leagues during the off-season to supplement salaries that are far below those of their male counterparts. Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride was preparing to enjoy a weekend off in Turks and Caicos after playing 11 games in 20 days when she was called in as an All-Star replacement player. The All-Star game was overshadowed by calls for higher annual salaries from both the players and fans in Indiana.
“My phone was going off and I’m half asleep and (WNBA Commissioner) Cathy (Engelbert) texts me, ‘Hey, you have a second to talk?’ And I was like, ‘Oh shoot, ‘” said McBride.
“I had to cancel my flight, get my credits back. I was sad, but then I was happy.” – Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride
The WNBA and players’ union have a lot to discuss before next season
The demanding schedule of the WNBA has resulted in Caitlin Clark being forced to sit out the All-Star event at her home stadium in Indiana. Strange to consider that she is the captain of one of the teams in the All-Star game. While their male counterparts are consumed with the ever-evolving nature of basketball, the ladies who star in the WNBA have a long list of demands ahead of the new season. With the meetings between the two parties reaching a stalemate, how will the WNBA approach any new negotiations?
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Indianapolis, Editing by Toby Davis)
