Challenges with the WNBA Schedule
There’s been quite a bit of talk about the WNBA’s scheduling this season, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. Balancing multiple games and trying to manage rematches leading up to the 2024 Finals has added to the confusion, especially with no rematches until late July due to some overlapping key games. One of the initiatives this season was “Rival Week,” which aimed to highlight intense matchups between rival teams throughout the week.
However, as Rival Week has arrived, it seems it’s not quite what the WNBA had in mind.
One of the most anticipated games was supposed to be the Indiana Fever against the Chicago Sky, with the excitement surrounding players like Kate Clark and Angel Reese. But, unfortunately, neither star will be participating in the game on Saturday. Clark, who has been struggling with calf tension, is still sidelined with no clear return date. The last update we got from the Fever was that she’s focusing on recovery.
As for Reese, she came out of the All-Star Game with a back strain. The Sky’s head coach, Tyler Marsh, mentioned there’s no timeline for her return either. So, what was meant to be a highlight for Rival Week is turning into a rather one-sided affair, with a playoff-bound Fever facing a Chicago Sky team that has been struggling lately—just 2 wins in their last 10 games.
Another exciting component of Rival Week was supposed to involve several games between last year’s Finals contenders, the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty. With stars like Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, who are former UConn teammates and business partners, the matchups had a lot of potential. Yet, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that both Collier and Stewart are also out for at least these games.
Stewart is dealing with bone bruises and won’t be back until at least late August. Meanwhile, Collier twisted her ankle in a recent match against the Las Vegas Aces. Although her injury seems less severe, she’s been ruled out for a couple of weeks. So, while the Lynx and Liberty could still put on a solid game, it’s just disappointing to see such key players sidelined.
Honestly, it feels like the scheduling could have been better thought out. With all the buzz surrounding the 2024 Finals, it seems like a no-brainer to feature a matchup between the Lynx and Liberty earlier in the season. Yet, they didn’t face off until July 31, when both teams were already facing injury issues.
Come August, the Lynx will play the Liberty three times in a row, and the Liberty will meet the Lynx in three of four games, all while another opponent gets squeezed in. Wouldn’t it have been nice to see these two teams compete at full strength back in May or June?
From the start, Rival Week didn’t seem to be the main focus; it has generated some negativity regarding how WNBA players are viewed. While encouraging rivalries can be fun, the overall discourse around the WNBA doesn’t seem to have fully evolved yet.
Still, they made the effort, but with so many injuries, it’s tough to market Rival Week as the success it could have been. Something needs to change—be it the scheduling to allow players more rest or perhaps rethinking how these rivalries are set up. It’s just clear that adjustments are needed to prevent such injuries in the future.
