Terri Carmichael Jackson said the WNBA players’ union was “deeply disappointing” by the NBA’s decision to leave women’s leagues off a joint memo to state gaming regulators about betting-related abuse.
The letter—sent by the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS with their player unions—asked regulators to let sportsbooks ban bettors who threaten athletes or their families, calling such conduct unethical and criminal.
The omission stung because the NBA owns about 42% of the WNBA, the leagues share New York offices, and WNBA players have publicly raised the same safety concerns for several seasons.
July incidents sharpened that pressure: Chelsea Gray shared an apparent slur from a user whose bio referenced sports betting, and Natasha Cloud said she had asked Adam Silver and Cathy Engelbert for stronger protections.
The dispute highlights a broader gap for women’s sports, with the NWSL players’ union saying it also learned of the men’s leagues’ memo only through media inquiries while backing similar protections.