INSIDER
WNBA players union decides to opt out of current collective bargaining agreement
Read full article: WNBA players union decides to opt out of current collective bargaining agreementThe WNBA players union has decided to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, two years before its expiration.
Breanna Stewart and her wife Marta Xargay receive homophobic threats after Game 1 of WNBA Finals
Read full article: Breanna Stewart and her wife Marta Xargay receive homophobic threats after Game 1 of WNBA FinalsNew York Liberty star Breanna Stewart and her wife Marta Xargay received threatening homophobic anonymous emails after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
WNBA and players' union closing in on opt out date for current collective bargaining agreement
Read full article: WNBA and players' union closing in on opt out date for current collective bargaining agreementThe WNBA had a record year in terms of growth in viewership and attendance, and with that the players now want a bigger piece of the financial pie.
Minnesota Lynx win wild Game 1 of the WNBA Finals
Read full article: Minnesota Lynx win wild Game 1 of the WNBA FinalsOn a night that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the Finals would go to a best-of-seven format next season, this year’s championship opener was one of the wildest games in playoff history.
WNBA teams allowed to protect up to six players for upcoming expansion draft for Golden State
Read full article: WNBA teams allowed to protect up to six players for upcoming expansion draft for Golden StateThe WNBA will have its first expansion draft in 16 years in December as the Golden State Valkyries start to fill out their roster.
Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White say social media vitriol toward WNBA players needs to end
Read full article: Alyssa Thomas and Stephanie White say social media vitriol toward WNBA players needs to endAlyssa Thomas and Stephanie White said racist and homophobic comments directed at WNBA players need to stop.
WNBA commissioner says charter flight program still has a few kinks but is running smoothly
Read full article: WNBA commissioner says charter flight program still has a few kinks but is running smoothlyWNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert says the charter flight program still has a few expected kinks but is running smoothly.
Aces rookie Kate Martin prepares out of spotlight for Caitlin Clark reunion and meeting with Fever
Read full article: Aces rookie Kate Martin prepares out of spotlight for Caitlin Clark reunion and meeting with FeverKate Martin was right there as her best friend and former Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark became the face of women’s college basketball the past two years.
Toronto awarded WNBA's first franchise outside US, with expansion team to begin play in 2026
Read full article: Toronto awarded WNBA's first franchise outside US, with expansion team to begin play in 2026Toronto has been awarded the WNBA’s first franchise outside the United States, with the expansion team set to begin play in 2026.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese hope to carry over college momentum to the WNBA
Read full article: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese hope to carry over college momentum to the WNBACaitlin Clark, Angel Reese and a deep WNBA draft class hope the momentum they created lifting women’s college basketball to new heights carries over to the pros.
WNBA to use optical tracking to enhance player analysis
Read full article: WNBA to use optical tracking to enhance player analysisThe WNBA will become the first women’s professional sports league in the U.S. to have league-wide optical tracking after entering a multi-year deal with Second Spectrum, a Genius Sports technology solution.
WNBA changes Commissioner's Cup format with each team playing 5 games over 2-week period
Read full article: WNBA changes Commissioner's Cup format with each team playing 5 games over 2-week periodThe WNBA is changing its Commissioner’s Cup format, playing half as many games and contesting them all during a two-week period in early June.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expects to add another expansion team soon
Read full article: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expects to add another expansion team soonWNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at her annual state of the league address before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals that the league most likely will be adding another expansion team soon.
College players will need to opt-in to upcoming WNBA Draft
Read full article: College players will need to opt-in to upcoming WNBA DraftThe WNBA and the Players' Association have agreed to an opt-in process for this season's draft, the league confirmed to The Associated Press, late Sunday, March 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)NEW YORK – The WNBA and the Players' Association have agreed to an opt-in process for this season's draft, the league confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday night. In the past, players who have run out of college eligibility are automatically entered into the draft. While this is a new situation in the WNBA, it’s unclear what the NCAA will do as far as allowing players to pull out of the draft. The NBA implemented similar rules, making players opt-in for the draft.
WNBA's Layshia Clarendon has surgery to remove breasts
Read full article: WNBA's Layshia Clarendon has surgery to remove breasts(AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)NEW YORK – Liberty guard Layshia Clarendon, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary, announced on social media Friday that they had surgery to remove breast tissue. The league, the players' union and the New York Liberty released statements offering support to Clarendon. Clarendon wrote in The Players' Tribune five years ago they identify as “black, gay, female, non-cisgender and Christian," and expanded on their identity in an Instagram post in December. “Existing outside of the binary for me is freedom,” Clarendon wrote. I know that my gender will keep evolving because we change and grow and shape shift and expand.
Game on! Seattle, Minnesota set to start WNBA playoff series
Read full article: Game on! Seattle, Minnesota set to start WNBA playoff seriesThe Seattle Storm and Minnesota Lynx will take the court Tuesday night, two days after Game 1 of their WNBA playoffs semifinals was postponed because of inconclusive COVID-19 tests. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said three players on the Storm had inconclusive results Sunday from tests they took the day before, so the league decided to postpone the scheduled opener of the best-of-five playoff series. “We are closely monitoring the situation and are coordinating with medical specialists.”The Storm players had undergone additional testing and two of the three had been cleared to rejoin the team. The league said all players and staff remaining in the playoffs will continue being tested under the health and safety protocols. While those players had to miss a game, no contests were canceled until Sunday's because of coronavirus fears.
WNBA games postponed following shooting of Jacob Blake
Read full article: WNBA games postponed following shooting of Jacob BlakeThe WNBA postponed its three games Wednesday night following the shooting of Jacob Blake over the weekend. Atlanta Dream player Elizabeth Williams read a statement on ESPN saying that the consensus is not to play in tonights games." WNBA teams held a roughly 30-minute vigil back at the IMG Academy hotel Wednesday night for Blake. Over the course of the season players have worn warmup shirts that read Black Lives Matter on the front and Say Her Name on the back. The phrase Black Lives Matter is featured prominently on the courts where the teams play.
WNBA renews partnership with Twitter for live game streams
Read full article: WNBA renews partnership with Twitter for live game streamsThe WNBA and Twitter recently announced the schedule of 10 live regular season WNBA games, which will be streamed on Twitter during the 2020 season. To bring fans closer to live game action, the WNBA will stream a unique broadcast on Twitter hosted by alternative commentators. In addition to live games, Twitter will also run WNBA highlights and features throughout the season. WNBA fans on Twitter are passionate about their hoops and these hyper-engaged fans continue to fuel an increased popularity of the league, said TJ Adeshola who is the Head of Sports Partnerships at Twitter, according to a league press release. The conversation around WNBA players, teams and their fans is happening on Twitter and is helping the leagues visibility.
WNBA begins season with weekend of triple headers
Read full article: WNBA begins season with weekend of triple headersThe leagues season will take place in Bradenton, Florida at IMG Academy in what some players call the Wubble. WNBA season gets underway on July 25 with 2018 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm meeting 2020 No. The weekend also will highlight the leagues new social justice platform, The WNBA Justice Movement, with a special focus on the Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, throughout the season, players will wear warm-up shirts that display Black Lives Matter on the front and Say Her Name on the back. Black Lives Matter will also be prominently displayed on courts during games.
WNBA Commissioner confident season will be successful
Read full article: WNBA Commissioner confident season will be successfulNEW YORK WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert believes the measures that the league has taken to ensure the players are safe as they work toward their season have been effective. Engelbert, who just finished her first year as the league's commissioner, said that she is confident the WNBA will have a successful season and make it through the playoffs in October. The season will tip off on Saturday and teams will play 22 games, with the regular season ending Sept. 12. Engelbert once again stated on the call how the WNBA is dedicating its season to social justice causes, including Black Lives Matter. Some players, including Breanna Stewart, have told The Associated Press that they will wear Taylor's name on their jersey all season.
WNBA set to begin season in late July: Heres what to know
Read full article: WNBA set to begin season in late July: Heres what to knowThe original season was set to begin in late May but due to the pandemic it was put on hold, which cost each team 14 games. Revised season planThe newly formatted 2020 WNBA season will be highlighted by a competitive schedule of 22 regular-season games followed by a traditional playoff format. We will continue to consult with medical experts and public health officials as well as players, team owners and other stakeholders as we move forward with our execution plan. And, despite the disruption caused by the global pandemic to our 2020 season, the WNBA and its Board of Governors believe strongly in supporting and valuing the elite women athletes who play in the WNBA and therefore, players will receive their full pay and benefits during the 2020 season, said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. IMG Academy is home to some of the premier preparatory school talent.
AP sources: IMG Academy, MGM top WNBA list of sites to play
Read full article: AP sources: IMG Academy, MGM top WNBA list of sites to playThe people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the possible locations havent been publicly announced. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told the AP last month that the league was considering a handful of scenarios that included playing at one or two sites. Engelbert told the AP once again on Tuesday that the league has talked about a number of options, but declined to confirm whether IMG Academy or MGM topped the list of possible destinations. IMG Academy is in Bradenton, Florida about 100 miles from Disney World near Orlando where the NBA is negotiating to restart its season in July. The commissioner did confirm one of many topics of discussion with the union: Players were paid Monday and will receive another check in a couple of weeks.
WNBA commissioner: League focusing on scenarios to play
Read full article: WNBA commissioner: League focusing on scenarios to playNEW YORK WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is focusing on about a half dozen scenarios for the league to begin play this summerEngelbert did not go into detail about each scenario, but told The Associated Press Friday that the league is looking at playing at one site, a few possibly at most instead of at every home arena. Despite the challenges, the commissioner is optimistic we can have a season this summer." The postponement of the Tokyo Games gives the league more of a chance to have a full season. We havent taken off the table having a full season while other scenarios have a reduced amount of games," the commissioner said. "A lot depends on the trajectory and restrictions in markets.Engelbert said many times during the nearly 30-minute interview that the health of the players, league and team staff was of the utmost importance.