Shooting slumps have been the talk of the WNBA lately. Why? Well, it all started with one of the league’s top three-point specialists – Caitlin Clark – going through the roughest stretch of her career. But soon enough, it became clear: it’s not just her. Nearly half the league seems to be feeling the same kind of cold streak. And just when the internet was deep in that conversation, Kelsey Plum chimed in with a brutally honest take, “’Cause we’re tired.” That one line flipped the whole discussion and suddenly, all eyes were on the WNBA’s jam-packed schedule. Now jumping into the same convo is rookie Sonia Citron.
We all know the WNBA season expanded to 44 games this year, but the league didn’t extend the calendar. So now, teams are cramming more games into the same window, which means players are sprinting through stretches with games every other day -or worse, back-to-backs. It’s a serious issue, and players are finally starting to speak up. The league’s current CBA is expiring at the end of this season, and while money might be the big-ticket item in those negotiations, scheduling is quickly becoming a hot-button issue.
“I think this is a conversation that could also be important for the next CBA,” Mercury’s Satou Sabally said. “Cathy (Engelbert) added a lot of games. We had nine games in 18 days. It’s not really responsible for a commissioner to do so.” Even Breanna Stewart chimed in, echoing the same concerns. And noCitron, fresh off a 71-79 loss to Bueckers-less Dallas, added her take:
“It’s difficult I don’t think I realized the W schedule…I definitely didn’t know we play every other day. It’s definitely challenging but at the end of the day, everybody is doing it. Dallas just played yesterday so it’s really no excuse…I just got to give it my all…it’s definitely challenging.”
Sonia Citron on WNBA schedule
“It’s difficult I dont think I realized the W schedule…I definitely didn’t know we play every other day. It’s definitely challenging but at the end of the day, everybody is doing it. Dallas just played yesterday so it’s really no excuse…I just…
— Moreau Sports Media Prod Co. (@MoreauSportsCo) June 29, 2025
She’s not wrong. The Mystics had just played the Aces, then rolled into that matchup. Dallas, on the other hand, had back-to-back home games – first against Indiana, then against Washington. And it’s not just them. The Fever also just wrapped up a brutal June filled with travel and chaos. Even the Liberty had a whiplash schedule. Late May, they played four games in six days, including a back-to-back with travel in between. Then suddenly, the next four had massive gaps. And in July, they’ll play two games against Indiana in New York with six days between them. So, there’s no rhythm.
Athletes love structure. But this schedule is anything but routine. Also, you know what else this jam-packed schedule is being blamed for? Injuries. Players, coaches, and fans alike are starting to call out how this brutal pace is wrecking bodies across the league. We’ve already seen a spike in injuries this season – some brutal, some recurring. Clark and Bueckers both have now been sidelined twice. And they’re not alone. So many teams are running with shorthanded rosters right now, and it’s becoming the norm.
Even when the Mystics faced Dallas, the Wings only had eight players suited up. Moreover, for rookies like Citron, Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and more, this shift has been massive. It’s not just about fatigue. It’s about safety too. “For me, in my instance specifically, and the other rookies, maybe push the start date back a little bit. The turnaround [from college] is insane. It’s not always best for the bodies,” Bueckers said recently. Makes total sense. She had just led UConn to the national championship. Same for Clark last year.
So what’s the fix? Well, most players and fans are hoping for two things: more expansion teams and a longer season. That would help distribute the games better, cut down on the chaos, and maybe save some legs and knees in the process. Because right now, this setup isn’t just hurting bodies. It’s messing with performances and exhausting fans too.
WNBA’s scheduling missteps hit fans and players alike
Remember last year? Playoff races were heating up, stars were dropping highlight performances, and every WNBA team hit the court on a Sunday, only for it all to get drowned out by one thing: the NFL. Well, fast forward to 2025, and same chaos, just a different font.
June 22 had some of the best basketball on display. Big names, big moments. But instead of spacing it out for fans to enjoy all three matchups, the WNBA squeezed every game into the same 3 p.m. ET window. That left fans with a choice instead of a full-day showcase. And with Game 7 of the NBA Finals later that night, the W had the whole afternoon to own the stage.
Even worse? It messed with League Pass, one of the best things about watching the W. With Indiana vs. Vegas on ESPN and the others buried behind paywalls or glitches, fans were once again left scrambling to watch what they came for. The platform availability is all over the place.
May 30, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) dribbles the ball past Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (22) in the second half at CareFirst Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
So yes, fans are showing up, the interest is booming, but the WNBA really needs to sort out some of these tech and access bugs – for both players and fans. Because this season is making one thing super clear: the WNBA has a lot to figure out before things get even more hectic next year with two more expansion teams joining in.
If they don’t fix the schedule mess now, it’s only going to push fans away.
The post Sonia Citron Latest to Raise WNBA Scheduling Red Flag After Injuries Sideline Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark appeared first on EssentiallySports.
