Ex-stars Parker, Delle Donne: WNBA has to protect players better
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, and Cheryl Reeve, all soon to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, emphasized the need for the WNBA to better protect players and crack down on excessive physical contact in the league.
- The recent suspension of Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas for a flagrant foul on Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark highlighted ongoing concerns about officiating consistency and player safety in the WNBA.
- Reeve noted improvements in officiating and league communication this season but called for greater public transparency and more proactive in-game foul calls to prevent dangerous plays and altercations.
- Parker and Delle Donne acknowledged that increased visibility and popularity of the WNBA have brought more scrutiny and debate, which they see as a positive step toward growth despite some negative aspects.
- All three stressed the importance of evolving the game's style to allow more freedom of movement and skill display, moving away from excessive physicality to enhance both player health and fan enjoyment.
