Let's Discuss
Where the W is taking an L
What's going on: The WNBA has spent years trying to attract more attention. Now it’s dealing with one of the downsides of getting it. In recent weeks, multiple players have spoken out about racist abuse, threats, and harassment they’ve received online. The conversation intensified after Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas said she received racist comments and her team got death threats following a flagrant 2 foul involving Caitlin Clark. Since then, Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams and Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray have also been on the receiving end of hate — which has led to at least one alleged online abuser losing their job. What began with a hard foul is now raising bigger questions about harassment, accountability, and the league's response.
Who's in charge here? Last year, the WNBA made a point to condemn harassment and launched an initiative to address it. But its leadership has been slow to respond to public outcry over the past few weeks. Players’ voices have been the loudest: Clark has publicly condemned the harassment. Meanwhile Thomas called on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league to “step up and have our backs,” which she eventually did. Though according to Sports Business Journal, it was NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who reportedly pushed Engelbert to take action after the Thomas-Clark incident. (The WNBA, for its part, has called that allegation "absolutely false.") Lawmakers have also inserted themselves into the debate... not without controversy. The result is a conversation that keeps expanding beyond basketball — into race, politics, sports betting, and culture-war territory. The question isn't whether the WNBA cares about these issues. It's whether the league is acting fast or visibly enough to protect players.
Related: Paige Bueckers Calls Out the WNBA's Lack of Black Female Head Coaches (ESPN)
Timeout...
Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.
Wait, why does FIFA want to add more teams to the World Cup?
For anyone just tuning in: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that he may expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. My first thought was: money grab, which… not no. But a bigger tournament could actually be a good thing. For starters, it could give smaller nations a better chance to qualify — especially African and Asian countries. It could also simplify the format by eliminating the “best third-place” rule and the mental gymnastics it required. With a field of 64, only the top two teams from each group would advance straight to the knockout round of 32, creating a simpler format with clearer stakes, a win-win for everyone.
PS: Need to sound off about your favorite athlete? Still don’t understand offsides? Call Well Played with your thoughts, questions, and concerns, at (828) 412-4825, and you might be featured in next week's episode.
FEATURED EXPERT:
Caroline Hendershot
Caroline Hendershot, reporter for the New York Jets and Well Played co-host, tackles listener Qs.
No Notes
Let's Discuss
Where the W is taking an L
What's going on: The WNBA has spent years trying to attract more attention. Now it’s dealing with one of the downsides of getting it. In recent weeks, multiple players have spoken out about racist abuse, threats, and harassment they’ve received online. The conversation intensified after Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas said she received racist comments and her team got death threats following a flagrant 2 foul involving Caitlin Clark. Since then, Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams and Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray have also been on the receiving end of hate — which has led to at least one alleged online abuser losing their job. What began with a hard foul is now raising bigger questions about harassment, accountability, and the league's response.
Who's in charge here? Last year, the WNBA made a point to condemn harassment and launched an initiative to address it. But its leadership has been slow to respond to public outcry over the past few weeks. Players’ voices have been the loudest: Clark has publicly condemned the harassment. Meanwhile Thomas called on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league to “step up and have our backs,” which she eventually did. Though according to Sports Business Journal, it was NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who reportedly pushed Engelbert to take action after the Thomas-Clark incident. (The WNBA, for its part, has called that allegation "absolutely false.") Lawmakers have also inserted themselves into the debate... not without controversy. The result is a conversation that keeps expanding beyond basketball — into race, politics, sports betting, and culture-war territory. The question isn't whether the WNBA cares about these issues. It's whether the league is acting fast or visibly enough to protect players.
Related: Paige Bueckers Calls Out the WNBA's Lack of Black Female Head Coaches (ESPN)
Timeout...
Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.
Wait, why does FIFA want to add more teams to the World Cup?
For anyone just tuning in: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that he may expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams. My first thought was: money grab, which… not no. But a bigger tournament could actually be a good thing. For starters, it could give smaller nations a better chance to qualify — especially African and Asian countries. It could also simplify the format by eliminating the “best third-place” rule and the mental gymnastics it required. With a field of 64, only the top two teams from each group would advance straight to the knockout round of 32, creating a simpler format with clearer stakes, a win-win for everyone.
PS: Need to sound off about your favorite athlete? Still don’t understand offsides? Call Well Played with your thoughts, questions, and concerns, at (828) 412-4825, and you might be featured in next week's episode.
FEATURED EXPERT:
Caroline Hendershot
Caroline Hendershot, reporter for the New York Jets and Well Played co-host, tackles listener Qs.
No Notes
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