The WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) criticized the NBA for excluding the women’s basketball league from a joint letter to state gaming regulators regarding athlete harassment related to sports betting. The letter, signed by the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS, requested additional regulations to protect athletes from threatening behavior by bettors.
WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson stated, “It is deeply disappointing that, given the very public and troubling incidents of betting-related harassment experienced by our members over the past several seasons, the NBA determined that WNBA players did not warrant inclusion in a joint position statement intended to address this very issue.” The NBA owns approximately 42% of the WNBA, with additional equity held by several NBA owners. Both leagues share New York offices.
The memo, reported by ESPN, called for regulations banning fans who threaten athletes or their families due to sports betting. The group of leagues and player associations referred to themselves as the “five largest professional sports leagues and players associations” and stated, “Threatening the safety of an athlete or their family members over a sports bet crosses a bright ethical and criminal line, and it is entirely unacceptable.”
Several WNBA players have recently experienced abuse believed to be connected to sports betting. In July, Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray shared a screenshot on Instagram showing a user directing a racial slur at her, with the user’s bio referencing sports betting. Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud subsequently asked both NBA commissioner Adam Silver and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to address player safety concerns. “So for both Adam and Cathy, there still has to be dialogue around this as our leagues continue to expand and as we continue to navigate what this betting world is,” Cloud said. “Cause we want to be in it; it's great for our league, but also within it, we have to be protected as human beings when we take these jerseys off.” Engelbert recently met with WNBA player committees to discuss improving player security and announced her retirement at the end of the year.
WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams noted that while steps are being taken, “we just want to see a little more consistency.” The NBA, NWSL, and NWSLPA did not respond to requests for comment, and the WNBA declined to comment.
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