The FIBA World Cup is a very big deal in women's basketball, and it only comes around every four years, so you'd like for it to work smoothly. That is hardly the case for the event that begins on Friday in Berlin.
The timing, as it relates to the WNBA, is absurd. Here we have a nine-day tournament that finds the WNBA suddenly going dark near the end of its regular season, then resuming with only four games remaining per team.
The Valkyries' season goes on pause on Sunday (against Portland) and doesn't restart until Sept. 18. That's nearly a three-week break for the league's hottest team - all the while uncertain about their playoff opponent, with the seedings still to be determined.
They'll have four players engaged in the World Cup: Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün (France), Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy) and Miela Sowah, a development player who has appeared in just five Valkyries games but was recently added to the Australian team.
Conveniently, the WNBA's eight-team playoff group is locked in, so that's one inconvenience out of the way. Certain teams and players could certainly use a break, but the league is understandably worried about injuries and, especially in the Valkyries' case, hard-earned momentum gone stale.
#team #case #season
The timing, as it relates to the WNBA, is absurd. Here we have a nine-day tournament that finds the WNBA suddenly going dark near the end of its regular season, then resuming with only four games remaining per team.
The Valkyries' season goes on pause on Sunday (against Portland) and doesn't restart until Sept. 18. That's nearly a three-week break for the league's hottest team - all the while uncertain about their playoff opponent, with the seedings still to be determined.
They'll have four players engaged in the World Cup: Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün (France), Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy) and Miela Sowah, a development player who has appeared in just five Valkyries games but was recently added to the Australian team.
Conveniently, the WNBA's eight-team playoff group is locked in, so that's one inconvenience out of the way. Certain teams and players could certainly use a break, but the league is understandably worried about injuries and, especially in the Valkyries' case, hard-earned momentum gone stale.
#team #case #season
4 days ago
