The primary a part of our WNBA common managers nameless survey targeted on questions associated to gamers and coaches in and across the league. However GMs are additionally compelled to grasp excess of simply the make-up of their very own staff. Half 2 of our survey dives into numerous league-wide matters, together with growth, rule modifications and a possible new Collective Bargaining Settlement.
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The Athletic surveyed the league’s common managers, who’re most frequently the highest basketball executives on their groups, to get their ideas on numerous issues. All 12 common managers had been requested to take part within the train whereas being granted anonymity in order that they may communicate freely, and 9 took half. Of these, some declined to reply particular questions, however that is nonetheless a complete have a look at how the league’s foremost decision-makers take into consideration the current and way forward for the WNBA.
When precisely the WNBA will develop into greater than 12 markets stays in query, however there was some consensus that the league ought to develop to a different market on the West Coast. (The Athletic requested this query earlier than our reporting that the Golden State Warriors are near bringing a WNBA franchise to the Bay Space.)
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It must be famous that common managers had been requested for one metropolis, however some mentioned as much as three of their response. One of many common managers who talked about a number of cities famous it could be essential for the league so as to add one other East Coast and West Coast staff “to have our conferences keep even.”
Bay Space
“It’d be an automated fan base from Day 1.”
“They’re all in.”
Portland
“That metropolis helps ladies’s basketball, and the pure rivalry between Portland and Seattle could be incredible.”
“The infrastructure is there and the fan base is – they’ve been pleading, give us a staff.”
Toronto
“I’m very intrigued by Toronto, to have all of Canada supporting that staff.”
Philadelphia
“Huge media market. Lengthy-time basketball metropolis. I believe that might be a fantastic place for our folks.”
This was one of many questions in our GM survey that we additionally requested gamers all through the season. Although the solutions will not be mutually unique (there’s no purpose league growth couldn’t include elevated rosters), a majority of common managers, very like the vast majority of gamers, hoped to see rosters improve.
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Add roster spots
“I believe our time could be greatest spent increasing roster measurement in essentially the most quick, simply because fiscally, it’s not as massive of an affect league-wide. … Simply have this pool of expertise that now we have within the system already that we will pull from, even when somebody comes down with the flu and you realize it’s not gonna be tremendous long-term, however you simply have them at your fingertips. I believe that might be essentially the most fruitful.”
“Possibly these final two — if rosters develop from 12 to 14 gamers — are distinctive in that we solely journey 12. These are developmental gamers. Some are in, some are out. However we’ve bought some backups there in order that we don’t need to go seize any person when any person will get harm.”
“I believe having 11 gamers is simply generally powerful. … The toughest factor is you’ve got the staff for 4, 5 months, so that you attempt to set up a tradition and swiftly you lose two or three gamers and it’s important to signal any person for that. And people gamers are solely there for observe functions, not most of them for enjoying functions. So it impacts tradition. … I believe high quality goes down.”
Growth
“I believe to proceed to develop our league and have a nationwide presence, we should be in additional markets and be extra related to extra folks domestically.”
“I simply suppose we’d like to have the ability to develop the eyeballs on this league with a view to get all this stuff that every one of us need for the gamers.”
Each
“The WNBA does want no less than two extra groups. The ladies’s basketball world and nation is prepared for extra. It could bolster the joy that the W is creating proper now. Extra roster spots, even whether it is permitting two-(to)-three gamers as observe/reserve gamers could be welcomed. That manner when accidents happen, you’ve got gamers who know the system and might step in seamlessly.”
“Each have worth, apples and oranges. A portion of growth charges must be distributed to groups to develop rosters, (and the) cap to handle hardship (and) IR points and likewise permit for youthful expertise, participant growth funding.”
What must be prioritized within the subsequent CBA negotiations
Because the people whose work is most straight impacted by the collective bargaining settlement, it made sense to ask common managers what they’d prefer to see up to date within the subsequent doc. The present CBA runs by 2027, however there’s a potential early opt-out in 2025, so negotiations could possibly be on the horizon within the subsequent two years. Per WNBPA first vp Kelsey Plum, the gamers affiliation is already surveying its constituents for his or her priorities within the subsequent settlement.
Journey
Basic managers had a large set of concepts about what must be addressed in the course of the subsequent spherical of bargaining, however the one matter that got here up from 4 people was journey, and the difficulty of constitution flights. The league presently prohibits groups from flying on personal charters, however with a 40-game season on the docket in 2024 throughout an Olympic yr, a higher impetus will likely be positioned on journey circumstances. As one common supervisor put it: “This will likely be fairly in our face subsequent yr with the Olympics and having a condensed schedule, however prioritizing participant well being and the journey.” One other common supervisor expressed an analogous sentiment concerning participant security because it pertains to journey and different points, saying the purpose of the subsequent CBA must be “reinforcing participant well being and security as the main lens by which all insurance policies and tips are filtered.”
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Tender cap
One other merchandise of curiosity within the upcoming CBA that two executives talked about was shifting to a gentle cap as an alternative of the present onerous cap, giving groups higher monetary flexibility and freedom to spend. This is able to make trades simpler to facilitate in the course of the common season. Given that the majority groups are at or above the cap on the commerce deadline, one common supervisor proposed a massaging of the commerce guidelines so groups may change gamers whose contracts had been inside 10 to twenty p.c of one another reasonably than an actual match.
Maternity exceptions, visibility, increasing rosters
Increasing roster sizes in addition to refining the nuances of hardship and maternity exceptions was additionally talked about. Lastly, two common managers prioritized visibility of the WNBA on nationwide platforms. “Proper on the prime of my checklist is visibility, the TV visibility,” one mentioned. “There must be a WNBA recreation, or two, on each evening similar to in faculty.” One other echoed the significance of visibility being step one towards making higher positive aspects. “Getting publicity that our gamers deserve on a nationwide scale, with extra TV video games,” the GM mentioned. “I believe that’s the largest factor and every thing else will comply with.”
What rule must be modified or re-evaluated earlier than subsequent season?
Problem rule / opinions
5 common managers interviewed for this survey hope to see modifications both with the league’s problem rule or official evaluate protocols. One in every of them, who struggled to separate the 2 from one another, famous that the broad hope is to assist foster accuracy with officers’ calls late in video games. A number of GMs need extra challenges. “Why don’t you get one per half?” one common supervisor requested. One other advised a staff ought to retain a timeout if it wins a problem, and a 3rd GM raised the concept of a time restrict being put into place concerning official opinions. Plenty of coaches, for what it’s price, even have robust opinions concerning such conditions and hoping for modifications to the problem rule.
Constitution guidelines / roster will increase
One common supervisor hoped to see constitution guidelines modified, with staff house owners, particularly, being given the choice to fly their staff constitution in the event that they wish to pay for it. One other advised increasing roster sizes, echoing among the causes talked about above.
Editor’s observe: The WNBA Confidential sequence is a part of a partnership with Michelob ULTRA. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Companions don’t have any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of and don’t evaluate tales earlier than publication.
(Illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; Pictures of skylines and Cathy Engelbert: Sarah Stier / Getty Photos; iStock)
