BROOKLYN — Cathy Engelbert addressed media forward of Recreation 1 of the WNBA Finals, and revealed a number of key modifications concerning the league’s future — from scheduling modifications to plans to fight the rise of on-line vitriol gamers have confronted.
Right here’s what it’s good to know concerning the Commissioner’s 30-minute in-depth press convention:
Scheduling modifications: 44 common season video games, 7-game Finals, 1-1-1 first spherical collection
Subsequent season, the WNBA will institute a number of scheduling modifications that followers have needed to see applied for a very long time.
With one new staff within the fold — the Golden State Valkyries — common season play will enhance from 40 video games to 44 video games. On condition that there gained’t be worldwide basketball subsequent summer season, the league’s begin and finish dates are anticipated to be much like this years’ regardless of the elevated size. Engelbert did say that might change transferring ahead.
As well as, home-court benefit for the primary spherical will change — the staff with the higher document will host Recreation 1 at house, hit the street for Recreation 2, and return house for a Recreation 3, if obligatory. This 12 months, the primary two video games had been held by the higher-seed, so 4 groups that made the playoffs by no means hosted a postseason recreation: Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream, Seattle Storm, and Phoenix Mercury.
Lastly, Engelbert introduced that the 2025 Finals would lengthen from a 5-game collection to a 7-game collection, mirroring the NBA Finals and different skilled sports activities leagues.
WNBA Draft: Lottery Date set, the Valkyries will get the #5 choose
Engelbert confirmed the WNBA Draft Lottery will happen on November seventeenth, and that the Golden State Valkyries will obtain the No. 5 choose in each spherical of the draft. Extra data is approaching the Valkyries entrance, Engelbert stated. Earlier Thursday, the group introduced Natalie Nakase as their first head coach.
Better emphasis on combating hateful speech and threats
Precisely a month in the past, Engelbert was requested concerning the rise of on-line hate WNBA gamers have been subjected, and fumbled the chance to denounce it. This time, she addressed this difficulty in full, unprompted as a part of her opening remarks.
“This development has not come with out rising pains: the hateful speech and threats directed at our gamers are troubling. That kind of conduct just isn’t consultant of WNBA character or fanbase. As a league, we stand united in condemning racism and all types of hate. The WNBA is without doubt one of the most inclusive and various skilled sports activities leagues on this planet, and we’ll proceed to champion these values.”
As a part of her opening remarks, Cathy Engelbert addressed the hateful speech and threats WNBA gamers have confronted this season:
“That kind of conduct just isn’t consultant of WNBA character or fanbase. As a league, we stand united in condemning racism and all types of hate.”
“We… pic.twitter.com/e030huaWA9
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) October 10, 2024
Engelbert additionally defined that the WNBA goes to be extra proactive in mitigating this on-line vitriol. She stated that the league plans on assembly with expertise suppliers, creating psychological well being assets, and exploring different interventions, as properly.
“We are going to meet with the Gamers’ Affiliation, the gamers, groups, we’ll work collectively to develop and improve our efforts, and are going to method this multi-dimensionally, using expertise, prioritizing psychological well being, reinforcing bodily safety and growing monitoring,” Engelbert stated. “We all know there’s extra work to be carried out, and as a league, we’re totally dedicated to listening to the gamers and different stakeholders on this and different necessary points.”