Overview

• Phoenix Mercury forward and WNBPA representative Satou Sabally criticized Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for scheduling nine games in 18 days as ‘not responsible.’
• The league’s 44-game format was compressed further by a four-week midseason break for the Paris Olympics, forcing multiple back-to-back matchups.
• Sports medicine research indicates that less than 48 hours between games increases the chance of soft tissue injuries by up to 40 percent.
• WNBA legend Candace Parker endorsed Sabally’s call for a more collaborative, player-centric model, contrasting it with the NBA’s approach under Adam Silver.
• The WNBA has not publicly responded to these concerns as players press for access to recovery resources and input on future scheduling.