A key focus for the WNBA is "mental health care coverage for the players that echoes that of their counterparts in the NBA," according to Talya Minsberg of the N.Y. TIMES. The NBA made policy changes to "increase mental health resources for its athletes in August after players pushed" for new coverage in their CBA; the WNBA's CBA ends in October. In the women's game, there is "no standard of care when it comes to mental health." On one team, players "may have access to multiple mental health care professionals." When they are traded, players "may join a team without the same resources." But L.A. Sparks F Nneka Ogwumike is "pushing for change" as WNBPA President. She said, "We just want to ensure every player in the W has access to the same professional resources." Minsberg notes players have "voiced hope that the tailored program would cater toward their chaotic schedules while being sensitive to the fact that one mental health professional can't fit the need of all of the players" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/26).
SUPPORT FROM THE TOP: Several top NBA players, including LeBron James, have been supporting the WNBPA in their impending labor batter, and Washington Mystics F Elena Delle Donne said, “It’s great that we have all this support. It helps when you’ve got a LeBron sitting courtside and is super into the game to kind of get rid of those high school has-been guys that want to be on Twitter and comment about the WNBA and think they can beat us one-on-one and all that. We deal with all that crap, but that’s the world we live in with social media. I think we're making great strides with the CBA, and to have support from a bunch of people is going to be huge” (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 9/26).
