RebKell's Junkie Boards

[pilight]

Back before the 2004 Olympics and again during the 2008, 2012, and 2016 breaks we discussed the best way for the WNBA to deal with the Summer Olympics happening in the middle of the season. In 2004 nobody argued more forcefully for a break than I did.

Now, entering the fifth cycle of taking an Olympic break, I'm not pleased with the way it's working. It's a major buzzkill to the league, wiping out whatever momentum or attention we might have garnered during the season.

So, let's reopen this discussion. What should the W do to deal with the Summer Olympics?

A) Continue to break. We've seen how that works.

B) Play through. That presents some issues. Is it fair to make teams who have multiple Olympians play without them? Would Olympians get paid for the games they miss while representing their country? Would teams missing Olympians be allowed to sign replacements? How would that affect the salary cap? If teams played without Olympians would anyone pay to see it? Would anyone watch it on TV? Would anyone watch any WNBA games while the Olympics are on another channel?

C) Finish the season before the Olympics. That would mean cramming 36 games plus playoffs into 10 weeks, playing a shorter regular season, or starting earlier. Cramming would increase the chances of injury and might well hurt Team USA's chances at Gold. Starting early would mean even less preseason practice time, more missing players who can't leave their European teams until late May, and possibly issues with venue availability for teams who share with NBA clubs. Shortening the season also raises the question of whether players get full pay. A combination of these could work. If we start in mid-May and schedule a little more aggressively, getting 28 games and playoffs finished before mid August might be possible. In 2000, when the Olympics started in mid September, the league played a 32 game season (including an All Star break) and playoffs in 90 days.

D) Break just for the two weeks of the Olympics instead of the five weeks that we break now. This could be accompanied by lighter scheduling in the last couple of weeks before the games as players need to work with their national teams.

E) Move to a winter schedule. Assuming, of course, that any players would play for WNBA pay instead of the greater money they can get in Europe and elsewhere.

F) Take the year off. That would give the players a chance to take a little time off every four years instead of playing all the time. It's drastic, but might as well throw it out there.

G) Something else. You have a better answer? Here's your chance to let everyone know.

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I'm a lonely frog
I ain't got a home

[ClayK]

There's no good answer. I would like a shorter break but the reality is that the Olympics are far more important to players, coaches, fans and shoe companies than the WNBA -- so if you make players choose, they will choose the Olympics.

If the break is shorter, more elite players miss more games, which not only hurts teams but the league as a whole.

This might be the best we can do ...

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Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā

[justintyme]

What about if instead of a whole season, they turned it into a half season that took place after the Olympics to capitalize on the attention the Olympics bring.

Perhaps have an extended training camp before the Olympics, then break.

And what if instead of a normal format, they came back and just had a 12 team playoff? Start with a round robin "group" stage and kinda follow the format of the Olympics themselves...except have the elimination stage games be at least a 3 game series.

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[PUmatty]

[ClayK]

[snlMINAJ]

for the non-olympians, why not have a summer league type of tournament. put some prize money on it...

[PUmatty]

[justintyme]

[pilight]

[myrtle]

I'm actually ok with it as is. Because the long break gives injured players time to heal, it's almost like it is two seasons instead of one. And I think for the 80% who aren't playing in the Olympics it's the break they never otherwise get in their year-round schedules. A shorter break would of course be better for us fans - five weeks seems like a very long time, even with Olympic entertainment in the middle.

[Stormeo]

[mercfan]

To me, one of the the biggest problems I have with the Olympics is not even the break, it's the constant rollercoaster prior to the break.

Some examples below:

We all know about the Taurasi time off (I'm sure she isn't the only one)

Random international commitments that take players away from the league for extended periods

Lack of overall focus from the stars

ex: Cambage laughing all game right before the break while Griner drops 33 and 14 on her. I love the Mercury but I want to get the Aces best, not beat them because they aren't trying.

I am sure there are plenty more but the point I am making is that nobody seems to give a shit about the season before the break and that's a problem to me. Especially as a fan when I know that Taurasi is just resting while we are .500 and fighting for a playoff spot.

Moving to Winter is my number one solution. Promoting the leagues stars while college stars are playing. Winter is when basketball fans are thinking about basketball. It just makes the most sense for me now that there are higher salaries. Make players choose between running their body into the ground and playing here in the states.

[Richyyy]

[craigmont]

We don't have to wonder if anyone would skip the Olympics to play in the WNBA.

American players don't even skip their foreign playoffs to get here in time for the season.

[mercfan]

[mercfan]

[pilight]

[Randy]

Does seem rather strange the in the rest of the basketball world men and women's leagues play during basketball season while that seems to be out of the question in the US.

[mercfan]

[myrtle]

[mercfan]

[PUmatty]

I feel like I used to know this, but what does the NHL do in Olympic years?

[pilight]

[undersized_post]

I have no solution but I appreciate the good intentions of everyone in this thread. <3

[PUmatty]