By Sam Fragoso

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is experiencing a landmark year, with increased viewership and attendance, soaring team valuations, and a significant $3.1 billion media rights deal. Journalist Sabreena Merchant, who covers the WNBA for The Athletic, notes that the league is in a better place than ever:

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"There's so much talent. The quality of play in the league is better than it ever has been. The playoff field is really exciting and it's kind of open. So no one really knows who's gonna win the title in 2026."

However, Merchant also points out that the league has become embroiled in controversy and culture wars. According to Media Matters, since June 25, Fox News has dedicated at least 206 segments to the WNBA, primarily aimed at stoking tensions related to race and trans athletes.

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"Everything in the WNBA seems to take on a political lens far beyond what is actually happening on the court," Merchant says. "And I think it's because people see an opportunity to use the league as a political prop."

Safety Concerns and Leadership Changes

The management of the Chicago Sky has revealed that it is seeking assistance from national security experts to protect its players off the court. Meanwhile, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert has announced plans to step down at the end of the calendar year.

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"There is just a lack of control of the narrative of the WNBA, and I don't think the commissioner is entirely to blame," Merchant states. "But I think they want a commissioner who is better able to control the story around the WNBA and prevent it from being a political prop in all of these culture wars."

Misogyny and Physicality in Women's Sports

Merchant discusses the conversation around physicality in the WNBA, suggesting that it reflects an element of misogyny.

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"There's a segment of the population that thinks that it's protecting women by preventing them from being in any spaces where they may be, I don't know, like beaten up a little bit, like on a basketball court. There's a lot of people who don't think that women should be engaging in physical labor, which athletics very much are."