Satou Sabally has expressed her frustrations with the WNBA schedule, saying the current setup is too demanding and unfair to players. The Dallas Wings forward, who has become one of the most recognizable stars in the league, believes the long season and heavy travel burden are hurting athletes both physically and mentally.
Satou Sabally Blasts WNBA Schedule: “They Don’t Care About Player Safety”
Sabally Says WNBA Schedule Is “Just Like Game on Game”
The WNBA expanded the season to 44 games per team, with each team playing 22 home games and 22 road games, up from 36 just a few years ago. The league made the change to increase its visibility and meet growing fan demand, but players like Sabally argue that it comes at a cost. Now, the league requires them to play more games in a shorter window, often with long flights and back-to-back contests that leave little room for recovery.
“Terrible. It’s like they don’t care about player safety,” Sabally said. “It’s like they don’t care about scheduling or whatever. I only mentioned that one time at the beginning of the season. I know people always love to come and say, ‘Oh, you guys want to get paid more, you guys need to play all these games,’ but at some point, there’s a sports science to it. It’s honestly just like game on game on game. So we play tomorrow, and we’re professional, and we’ll do it.”
Sabally, who has dealt with her own share of injuries during her career, made it clear that her criticism is not just about herself. She pointed to the number of players around the league who have missed time this season with nagging injuries. In her view, the league risks shortening careers if it continues to push players without adjusting the schedule or improving travel conditions.
Keep Reading: Why Injuries could Ruin the WNBA Season
Sabally to Keep Speaking Out Against Schedule
Travel remains one of the biggest issues. Unlike the NBA, WNBA teams still rely heavily on commercial flights, which adds more hours to already packed schedules. Delays, layovers, and overnight travel have become common for players, many of whom then have to play games with little to no rest.
Sabally is not the first star to speak out, and neither is this the first time she has spoken out. Earlier this year, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson also raised concerns about player workload, expressing the same frustrations. Stewart, a two-time MVP, argued that if the league wants to expand and attract bigger audiences, it must also prioritize the health of its athletes. Wilson agreed, saying that the push for growth should not come at the expense of players’ well-being.
The WNBA has defended the expanded schedule, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert previously saying that more games were necessary to keep up with rising demand and to align with international basketball calendars. Engelbert has also pointed out that expansion brings more opportunities for fans and more exposure for players.
As of now, the WNBA has not directly responded to Sabally’s latest remarks. However, her words are likely to add momentum to the wider conversation about player welfare, and the 27-year-old insists she will continue to speak out. With more stars raising their voices, the pressure on the league to make adjustments may continue to grow.
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