Journalists Educate Patrick Beverley after Trolling Satou Sabally’s Complaint About WNBA Schedule

Satou Sabally complained that the WNBA schedule was too condensed this season and players health was at risk.

Journalists Educate Patrick Beverley after Trolling Satou Sabally’s Complaint About WNBA Schedule

Patrick Beverley trolled Satou Sabally's complaints about WNBA schedule (Image via FirstSportz)

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Satou Sabally and her Phoenix Mercury are having to play back-to-back games against playoff contenders this late in the season. It is not just them, but other teams also had to endure such a tight schedule.

Complaints about the schedule this season began early, as players were forced to play several games over a short period. They felt the WNBA did not consider player health when creating the 2025 schedule.

There have been times when there were no games on certain days, and then a plethora of games on one fine day, most of them bunched together at the same time slots.

Fans complained about the TV schedule, even though this tactic helped the league garner major viewership numbers and ticket sales. The league broke its 2002 attendance record, indicating that the weekend-heavy schedule worked in its favor.

But the players are not happy with this condensed schedule. After their game against the Las Vegas Aces yesterday, Satou Sabally slammed the WNBA.

She claimed that the league did not consider player health and safety when scheduling back-to-backs this late in the season. This came to the attention of former NBA star Patrick Beverley.

I’m rooting. These ladies deserve more money. But c’mon, man, you’ve got to play back-to-backs, man. Before the lockout came, we were playing back-to-back-to-backs, 3 times. You had to play 3 games in a row. I’m all with it, but don’t lose me there now.

Patrick Beverley said on his namesake podcast

He was trying to say that these excuses could make him lose interest in the WNBA. The former Milwaukee Bucks star believes it is normal to play back-to-backs, and thus, these players should not complain.

AP Voter schools Patrick Beverley over WNBA schedule conflict

Patrick Beverley said this based on what he and other basketball players face in the NBA and in other leagues. This message to Sabally and the WNBA caught the attention of Associated Press voter and journalist Eden Laase-Derouin.

Here’s the thing: WNBA rosters have 12 players. NBA rosters have 15 players and up to 18 with two-way contracts. Plus, WNBA players are playing in other leagues during their offseason, which means more wear and tear on the body. It’s important to have all the facts.

Eden Laase-Derouin wrote on X

This clarification sheds light on the different ways the WNBA and NBA rosters are shaped. On one hand, the women’s game has fewer players, and cannot sign others for at least a game in case one suffers serious injuries.

The Indiana Fever faced that situation twice, the latest after Sophie Cunningham ended her season. They can only sign a player after she officially misses a game.

Such problems are not there in the NBA, which already enjoys 15-player rosters. On top of that, they can sign 3 players to two-way contracts and others on 10-day contracts. Those are some demands WNBA players are fighting to be allocated in the next CBA.

Satou Sabally and Mercury defeat Valkyries

Knowing the Phoenix Mercury had to play a back-to-back, head coach Nate Tibbetts ensured Satou Sabally and her starters did not play a lot against the hot-handed Las Vegas Aces.

Satou Sabally after the Phoenix Mercury's win over the Golden State Valkyries
Satou Sabally after the Phoenix Mercury’s win over the Golden State Valkyries (Image via Phoenix Mercury/X)

Against the Golden State Valkyries, they had a better chance of winning. More importantly, they would then go on a 4-day break before heading to the West Coast. Therefore, a win would help in managing momentum.

Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, and DeWanna Bonner played more minutes than against the Aces, which helped them win at home by a score of 81-72.

With the playoff race on a grind, these stars would have hoped that they had a better spread of games to avoid fatigue with the postseason just a couple of weeks later.

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