Who shall we sue?  It is time for a class action suit.  We need a lawyer who wants to do what is right.  The future of the WNBA is in doubt.  Not because of one player, but what is happening to many players.

 

I started this thought process when Cameron Brink went down with torn ACL.  I learned a new term, physicality.  I also renewed my observation that teams with poor skills play dirty. I have also compared the unnecessary physical crap to the demise of the Roller Derby back in 1973.

 

I am convinced that this rough style of play is not only sanctioned by the WNBA, but I am beginning to believe that it is what the leadership of the WNBA wants by design.  The WNBA even made a promotional video promoting the overt physical abuse.

 

A’ja Wilson as protected that she is by officials has also been injured. Angel Reese has been injured.  Paige Bueckers and A’ja Wilson stayed out of games because of concussion protocol. Basketball is supposed to be a non-contact sport. Paige Bueckers has stated that she had to learn how to play defense again.  Paige said in college she learned to play defense without touching the opponent.  In the WNBA  you play defense by hitting the opponent.

 

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who made her career in spreadsheets and analytics in the accounting field is acting as if she cannot read an attendance spreadsheet.  If it is not that, by allowing a Midwest player get beat up reduces the attendance and viewership of the Midwest team.  Engelbert who is based in New York has acted in the past to want to promote the New York team.  Ask the Minnesota Lynx about the playoffs last year.

 

It is time to nip this in the bud.  There needs to be a lawsuit. An article previously published stated that this reminds the author of the 1975 movie Rollerball where the player Jonathan E. became larger than the game.  The world in that movie was controlled by corporate executives.  They did not want any one player be bigger than the game.  Their goal was to eliminate Jonathan E. when he did not retire when asked to retire.

 

It is time as fans of the game to create a class action lawsuit.  The lawsuit needs to list the WNBA, the referees listed individually, and yes the Indiana Fever management.  In fact, list all of the WNBA team’s management.  And yes, include one of the largest investors in the WNBA, the NBA.  Include Cathy Engelbert and Adam Silver. And while we are at it, include all who have TV contracts, Ion, ESPN, CBS Sports, ABC, the local stations.  Join the class action for emotional damages of $100 each.  100,000 participants would bring a figure of $10,000,000. Published reports say that 1.7 million viewers watch the game.  If all 1,700,000 viewers signed up, the amount would be $170,000,000.  

 

This is not about protecting one player although correcting the problem will protect one player.  It will also protect the whole league. It will protect Angel Reese, Colurtney Vanersloot, Katie Lou Samuelson, all players.  It will also protect the game of  women's basketball, something that was not around when they destroyed the Rollerderby in 1973.  Right now Caitlin Clark is surviving just as Jonathan E. survived. But is survival what is desired?  Many women and girls wan to have a professional basketball league in the United States.   

 

If this does not get the attention of the league to fix this and make it a great game to watch, then the WNBA will die.