Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally has openly criticized the WNBA’s demanding schedule, which forces her team to contest five games within eight days, highlighting concerns about player wellbeing. In contrast, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley dismissed the complaints about back-to-back games, asserting that such challenges are part of professional basketball.
Following the Mercury’s 83-61 defeat to the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, Sabally addressed the media to express frustration over the league scheduling multiple back-to-back contests despite players’ warnings about the risks of burnout and injury. She emphasized that the league appears indifferent to player safety and questioned the sustainability of constant gameplay without adequate rest.
“Terrible. It’s like they don’t care about player safety,” Sabally said. “It’s like they don’t care about scheduling or whatever. … I know people always love to come and say, ‘Oh, you guys want to get paid more, you guys need to play all these games.’ But at some point, there’s a sports science to it. It’s honestly just like game on game on game.”
On the other hand, Beverley, who is considering an NBA return after a brief period with Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv, shared a differing perspective. While acknowledging the players’ right to better pay, he stressed the importance of adapting to rigorous schedules, which include multiple back-to-back games, something he believes is part of professional basketball demands.
“I’m rude. These ladies deserve more money, but come on, man,” Beverley said via an IG post. “You got to play back-to-backs, man. It’s part of the … some of us playing back-to-back-to-backs, three times. You have to play three games in a row. I’m all with it. But don’t lose me there now. ”
This season, the WNBA has increased its schedule by eight additional games, expanding each team’s total number of games from 36 to approximately 44, evenly divided between home and away matches. This change has intensified the physical demands on the players, with the Phoenix Mercury currently navigating this condensed schedule.
The Mercury have completed four of these five games so far, holding a balanced record of two wins and two losses, with both losses handed to them by the Las Vegas Aces. Having just finished a three-game road stretch, the team returned home to prepare for another matchup against the Las Vegas Valkyries. Despite the schedule strain, Sabally continues to perform strongly, averaging 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this season.
Analyzing the Remaining Games for Satou Sabally and the Mercury
As the WNBA regular season approaches its critical phase, the Phoenix Mercury remain in contention for playoff positioning, currently seeded fifth but with a chance to move as high as second. Their upcoming schedule will be a significant test as they seek to improve their standing.
The Mercury’s next series of games include a home encounter with the Valkyries, followed by an away game against the Sparks. They will then face a demanding stretch of home games against the Chicago Sky, New York Liberty, and Indiana Fever. Afterward, Phoenix will host the Sparks again before concluding the season on the road facing the Dallas Wings.
These remaining games are set on the following dates:
• Saturday, August 23 vs Golden State Valkyries
• Friday, August 29 vs Chicago Sky
• Sunday, August 31 vs New York Liberty
• Wednesday, September 3 vs Indiana Fever
• Wednesday, September 10 vs Los Angeles Sparks
The Implications of the WNBA’s Demanding Schedule Debate
The dispute between Sabally and Beverley highlights a broader tension in professional women’s basketball regarding workload and player health. Sabally’s concerns underscore ongoing conversations about the physical toll of condensed schedules on athletes, particularly in a league that has expanded its number of games this season. Meanwhile, Beverley’s comments reflect a viewpoint that players must adapt to the realities of the sport’s demands.
How the league and its players navigate this disagreement will likely influence discussions on future scheduling, player rights, and financial compensation. With the Mercury fighting for playoff success amidst these challenges, the effects of the schedule on team performance and player health will continue to be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.