NYSportsJournalism.com - WNBA Has Plan To Put 2020 Season Into Play
The WNBA, which was scheduled to begin its 2020 season on May 15, said it finally has the upcoming campaign in sight.
The league said today that, along with the Women’s National Basketball Players Assn., it is finalizing a partnership that beginning in July would make IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., the official home of the 2020 WNBA season and would serve as a single site for training camp, games and housing for each of the 12 teams
The campaign would include 22 regular-season games followed by a traditional playoff format.
Under the current plan, teams would report to IMG Academy, located about 45 miles south of Tampa, in early July and regular-season games would begin in late July after a training camp period.
Although the season would be reduced from 36 games, the WNBPA said players would receive 100% of their salary.
The WNBPA also said that 77% of the league’s players voted in favor of the plan.
“We are finalizing a season start plan to build on the tremendous momentum generated in the league during the off-season and have used the guiding principles of health and safety of players and essential staff to establish necessary and extensive protocols,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said via the league.
“We will continue to consult with medical experts and public health officials as well as players, team owners and other stakeholders as we move forward with our execution plan.”
Engelbert said that “despite the disruption caused by the global pandemic to our 2020 season, the WNBA and its Board of Governors believe strongly in supporting and valuing the elite women athletes who play in the WNBA and therefore, players will receive their full pay and benefits during the 2020 season.”
Games even without spectators and with just essential personnel will air on broadcast partners ESPN, CBS Sports Network and NBA TV.
The league said regular season match-ups and times for WNBA 2020 Tip-Off presented by AT&T would be unveiled at a later date.
This season’s first jewel event, the WNBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm, was held on April 17 as scheduled, but conducted virtually with players via remote, without guests and media and with Engelbert overseeing the event from her home (pictured below).
The WNBA said it would also continue to “build on its commitment to social justice and will support players in launching a bold social justice platform as a call to action to drive impactful, measurable and meaningful change.”
The WNBA 2020 season will include a devoted platform led by the players that will aim to support and strengthen both the league and teams’ reach and impact on social justice matters.
As recently unveiled, this began with the WNBA making donations from sales of its “Bigger Than Ball” women’s empowerment merchandise to the Equal Justice Initiative.
“The WNBA opposes racism in all its forms, and George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are the latest names in a list of countless others who have been subject to police brutality that stems from the systemic oppression of Black Lives in America, and it is our collective responsibility to use our platforms to enact change,” said Engelbert.
According to WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, “In our discussions with the league, we emphasized and they agreed that a strong commitment to a 2020 season will give the WNBA the chance to show the world that it’s taking the steps needed to secure our livelihood and well-being, while also providing the opportunity to amplify our collective voice.
“We have always been at the forefront of initiatives with strong support of #BlackLivesMatter, #SayHerName, the LGBTQ+ community, gun control, voting rights, #MeToo, mental health and the list goes on. This is not only necessary from a humanitarian perspective, but it may be one of the biggest opportunities that this league has and will ever have.”
“As in recent CBA negotiations, the WNBPA Executive Committee worked tirelessly to represent the interests of all players as the league planned to launch a 2020 season,” Terri Jackson, WNBPA executive director, said via the organization.
“Our society has learned or perhaps has been reminded of an important lesson: women are integral to the economic stability of their families and their communities. The league and the teams’ commitment makes a statement.”
“As home to some of the world’s leading athletes, coaches and performance experts, IMG Academy is thrilled to partner with the top basketball players in the world and the entire WNBA family,” Tim Pernetti, evp-IMG Events and Media, said via the company.
“We are truly looking forward to becoming the Official Home of the 2020 WNBA season and working closely with the league in providing our best-in-class training and competition environment.”
