The WNBA season is days away from starting, with teams across the league wrapping up their preseason. While the results in preseason aren’t crucial, it is still a good time for coaches to try out new systems. It is also vital for players to get up to game speed before the regular season. This part of the offseason can be difficult as teams choose which players they will waive. This year is no different, as some players have already been cut. Let’s discuss why the WNBA should increase the number of players on each roster.
Why The WNBA Should Expand Roster Spots
Waiving A Player Before The Season Could Destroy Their Confidence
If the WNBA decides to increase roster spots, more players will get a chance. This is crucial as players such as Deja Kelly are getting waived despite doing so well in preseason. In the first preseason game for the Aces, Kelly scored a modest nine points in just over 7 minutes. She played even better in the second game against the Phoenix Mercury, where she scored 15 points, including a game winner with a few seconds left. She responded to getting waived by saying, ”Gotta continue to not prove anyone else wrong, but prove myself right” in an emotional interview with Ros Gold-Onwude of the Good Follow Show. Getting waived is a nightmare scenario for her as she did not get drafted by any team in the league.
If A Player Gets Injured, It Won’t Be As Detrimental
If the squad size is bigger, then injuries will not be able to derail a team’s campaign. Cam Brink’s injury is a perfect example of this. When she got injured, the Los Angeles Sparks went on to struggle. The only positive from her injury is that Rickea Jackson was given a more prominent role. If they had trusted her earlier last season, she could have competed with Caitlin Clark for Rookie of the Year. The Los Angeles Sparks could have easily fought for a place in the playoffs with a healthy Cam Brink. The Las Vegas Aces are another example of this, as injuries to Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray dented their aspirations of three-peating.
More Players Deserve A Chance To Play In The WNBA
The WNBA only has 13 teams, with each team having 12 roster spots. This is not ideal, as there are so many talented players in the Euro League who may not get a chance in the league, such as Holly Winterburn. This is before we consider the players who played college basketball that aren’t given a proper chance.
Despite playing for the Indiana Fever last year, Celeste Taylor was waived on three occasions before eventually settling with the Phoenix Mercury in January. She has been given a training camp contract with the Mercury, so she has to work extra hard for a spot in the WNBA this upcoming season. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Phoenix’s roster, as several players have been given a training camp contract.
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