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There are literally more eyes than ever on the WNBA, something that has been justifably widely celebrated by fans, athletes, teams, and commentators alike. But with that influx of new fans comes vast gaps in knowledge, and ahead of this season’s kick-off next week some fans have questioned why the WNBA has signed and drafted so many players from Europe when there’s plenty of talent at home.
This debate picked up steam after popular rookies Shyanne Sellers and Bree Hall were waived by the Golden State Valkyries and the Indiana Fever, respectively. Sellers was picked up by the Atlanta Dream, but Hall has yet to find a new home in the league. It’s understandable that fans are disappointed to see the athletes they’ve rooted for in college be cut in the WNBA, but that’s also part of the game: last year, fewer than 50% of drafted rookies actually made it to a roster by the time the 2024 season began.
Signing international players during free agency and drafting them alongside American graduates isn’t anything new for the WNBA — it just seems like a vocal minority of fans are expressing understandable frustration without necessarliy havnig a working knowledge of just how good some of the European talent in the WNBA really is.
The best WNBA players still come from the US
First and foremost, when it comes to the WNBA, the vast majority of athletes still come from the United States or graduate from American universities. The resources afforded most D1 programs outweigh those abroad (including access to trainers and rehabilitation services), and the international players who enter the WNBA without being drafted or attending college in the US are the top of the very top.
European players in the WNBA have been pros for a long time
A stark difference between American WNBA players and Europeans who are drafted as teenagers (both Dominique Malonga and Juste Jocyte are 19 years old) is that many of the Euro athletes joined professional clubs when they were 13 or 14, something that gives them a unique edge over their American counterparts. This has also afforded some of those players the opportunity to play against WNBA talent in international competition, so when they are drafted themselves, they already have a mental Rolodex of athletes.
Going up against WNBA talent at a younger age gives the European athletes the opportunity to understand the gaps in talent that exist between their clubs and the league and to become more confident than they might otherwise.
How to watch European basketball games
Fans who aren’t as familiar with European women’s basketball might consider catching a few games online when possible. A lot of teams broadcast their games on YouTube for free — no fees, no cut feeds, no apps — and since Europe is 6 hours ahead of the EST time zone, American fans can watch the games live or watch the replay at their own convience.
