WNBA Left Out of Joint Anti-Harassment Memo
Five major men's sports leagues requested lifetime sportsbook bans for bettors who harass athletes.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Basketball
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Should professional sports leagues ensure equal harassment protections for both men's and women's athletes?
The NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS recently submitted a joint memo to state gaming regulators seeking lifetime bans for fans who harass athletes. The WNBA was excluded from the request, drawing sharp criticism from league leadership.
Why it matters
The exclusion of the WNBA highlights ongoing gaps in protective policies as professional leagues attempt to combat rising harassment linked to sports betting outcomes. Players have increasingly reported receiving abusive messages from bettors regarding their performances.
A joint memo was signed by 5 major men's professional leagues to request lifetime sportsbook bans for bettors. The WNBA remains excluded from this collective action despite reports of harassment from its athletes.
The players
Cheryl Reeve
She is a prominent WNBA coach who criticized the exclusion of her league from the industry anti-harassment efforts.
Terri Carmichael Jackson
She serves in a leadership capacity and voiced her disappointment regarding the WNBA's omission from the joint memo.
Natasha Cloud
She is a professional basketball player who has been the target of abusive messages from sports bettors.
Courtney Williams
She is a professional basketball player who has publicly reported experiencing harassment from bettors.
The details
Players including Natasha Cloud and Courtney Williams have publicly shared that they have received abusive messages from bettors. Terri Carmichael Jackson characterized the WNBA's absence from the collective memo as a deeply disappointing development for the league.
Timeline
September 19, 2026: The exclusion of the WNBA from the memo was reported.
Season Trajectory
This dispute marks a divergence in how professional leagues coordinate with the regulatory framework of state gaming commissions to protect their athletes. The lack of unity across leagues could complicate future efforts to standardize safety measures against betting-related abuse.
The absence of a unified policy means WNBA players currently lack the same level of institutional support as their counterparts in the NBA or NFL when petitioning regulators for lifetime bans. This creates a disparity in how athletes across different leagues can effectively report and address bettor-driven harassment.
The takeaway
The move underscores the growing tension between the rise of legalized sports betting and the personal safety of athletes in the professional landscape. Leagues are finding that creating a safe environment requires not just policy, but consistent advocacy across all professional sports.
Further reading
Learn more about league policies on the Basketball page.
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Should professional sports leagues ensure equal harassment protections for both men's and women's athletes?
