The WNBA season is just weeks away, and the preseason is underway with all 13 teams looking to find the right fits for the regular season. The Indiana Fever have definitely been a team to watch, winning both of their preseason games so far. However, their game against the Washington Mystics at home exposed the harsh reality of the current officiating standards in the W. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has some serious issues to address, as analysts and reporters continue to weigh in on the matter.
The Fever’s preseason matchup against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse gave fans an early taste of what’s to come this WNBA season. Caitlin Clark was out with a minor leg issue, but the intensity on the court was sky-high. Things turned physical quickly. It started when Sophie Cunningham entered the game and was greeted with a hard challenge by Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen. Midway through the second quarter, Cunningham chased a loose ball and was seemingly thrown to the floor by Iriafen. That moment flipped the switch–and from there, the game turned into a foul fest.
Both teams combined for a staggering 44 fouls—unusual for a preseason contest. Coaches on both sides were clearly unhappy with the officiating, reacting to a string of questionable whistles and missed calls. Rachel DeMita, on her podcast, didn’t hold back while sharing her thoughts on the league’s officiating issues. Cathy Engelbert, you might want to hear this!
She says, “I blame the referees, and I blame the league, because one thing that the NBA did is they cut out that physicality. The NBA knows that there is entertainment value in teams scoring a lot of points and being able to get offenses going. So the NBA literally changed rules to favor the offense. Now, in the WNBA, it’s always going to be a little bit more physical because girls do not play above the rim–they’re on the ground. So things are going to be a little bit more physical in that sense. But they have to tighten up. They have to tighten up with the rules, and they have to tighten up with what the referees are calling, because some of this stuff can lead to injury.”
Oct 10, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert holds a press conference before game one of the WNBA Finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The reality is, as DeMita notes, fans want offense. They want skill, flashy handles, and highlight-reel dunks. The NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, picked up on that long ago. That’s why rules like the handchecking ban and the removal of illegal defense were introduced–to let offensive talent shine.
Just look at the numbers. The highest-scoring team in the NBA this past season was the Indiana Pacers, putting up a whopping 123.3 points per game. Even the lowest-scoring team, the Memphis Grizzlies, averaged 106.5. Compare that to 10 years ago: in 2013-14, the Clippers led the league with 107.9 points per game, while the Bulls scraped the bottom with just 93.7. Sure, some of today’s leniency–like letting the players travel, carry, and flop–might frustrate the basketball purists. But these moments feed the highlight machines, fuel social media, and most importantly, drive interest.
But there’s another major issue that Cathy Engelbert needs to address–player pay. The WNBA has faced heavy criticism over the years for the underpayment of its athletes. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has been in the works for a while now, and finally, the commissioner has given an update on it.
Cathy Engelbert “optimistic” over new CBA
Thanks to Caitlin Clark’s impact, the WNBA’s revenue has doubled since 2019–jumping from $102 million to $200 million. But that doesn’t help the players one bit. They are still only receiving 9.3% of that total revenue. Right now, the highest-paid player in the league makes $241,984 a year, while top rookies like Clark are starting out at just $76,535. That’s the reality of where the W currently stands.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) officially opted out of the league’s CBA last October, making it clear that players are demanding a business model that truly reflects their value. That includes higher salaries and improved benefits–like a bigger share of league revenue. Since then, work on a new CBA has been in full swing. Engelbert finally has an update on it.
“These things take time,” said Engelbert while speaking at the WNBA Draft on April 14. “They’re partial proposals… we want full, comprehensive proposals in order to determine what the future looks like. But again, I’m very optimistic that we’ll get something done and it’ll be transformational.”
With Engelbert taking a big step towards helping athletes realize their true value–it’ll be interesting to see if she also considers Rachel DeMita’s suggestions and implements rule changes that both protect players and enhance the viewing experience.
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