Players and fans agree: the WNBA schedule has big problems with no solution

There's no getting around it: this season's WNBA schedule is already proving to be grueling for athletes — and a little confusing for fans. Liberty star Breanna Stewart and the Mercury's Satou Sabally have each raised issues with the number of games being crammed into the first few weeks of play, and many fans have noted that those very games seem to be haphazardly organized.

For example, there were three big games Wednesday: the Sparks beat the Aces, the Storm took down the Lynx, and the Mercury defeated the Wings. And today there's nary a WNBA game in sight. In fact, this week includes one game Monday, two Tuesday, three Wednesday, zero on Thursday, two Friday, and three Saturday. If there's a method to the madness, it's a little tough to spot from here.

Perhaps some of the problem just comes down to growing pains. The WNBA has added the first expansion team since 2008, which has resulted in a longer season and a few more games. On Wednesday Stewart expressed concerns about this year's schedule and noted that the issue isn't so much the number of games as it is the number of rest days in between (or the lack thereof).

Playing games without recovery can hurt athletes

Stewart also pointed to the WNBA's new media rights deal as part of the conversation. "We want to play the games especially if that’s what is wanted for TV and having these sellout arenas," she said. "I think the hardest part is no matter what, when I was playing 36 games or 32 games it was in the same amount of time as 44 games."

"I think that’s one of the biggest talking points in the next CBA is like, alright, how can we make it so teams aren’t playing four [games] in six [days] three times in a season and continuing to have the rest and recovery so we are at our best," Stewart added. (Stewart knows a thing or two about the toll a grueling schedule can place on athletes' bodies; she ruptured her Achilles tendon while playing in the EuroLeague championship in 2019, in part due to the impact of playing in Europe so soon after finishing out the WNBA season that year).

As she pointed out, the length of the season will likely also be addressed once the renegotiation of the league CBA begins this fall. The current CBA allows for a maximum of 44 games — the exact number of teams are playing this season with the addition of the Valkyries. Two more teams are set to join the WNBA next year, which would theoretically push the league to 52 games.

Stewart isn't the only player who has had something to say about the schedule so far this season. While speaking to reporters on June 7, Satou Sabally called out the league's commissioner for setting a schedule that is proving to be rigid and tough. "[WNBA Commissioner] Cathy [Englebert] added a lot of games, and for us as players, recovery is so important. We put our bodies on the line every single time. We had nine games in 18 days. That's not really responsible for a commissioner," she said.

Stewart's teammate Natasha Cloud has proposed one solution: extending the WNBA season. According to reporter Lucas Kaplan, Cloud commented, "Girl, Cathy needs to extend the season … if you want the best product on the floor, we need proper time to rest and recover."