Hall of Famers Call for Stricter WNBA Enforcement on Player Contact

Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne and Cheryl Reeve said Friday in Knoxville, Tennessee, that the WNBA must do a better job protecting players and cracking down on excessive contact. The three are members of the 2026 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame class and spoke one day after the league suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game.

The WNBA issued the suspension on June 26 after a league review of a June 25 game.

Thomas received a flagrant 2 foul and the one-game ban for thrusting her fist into Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark's neck. No foul was called on the play during the game. Parker, who won WNBA titles with Los Angeles in 2016, Chicago in 2021 and Las Vegas in 2023, said the physicality has always existed but increased visibility now brings new opinions.

Delle Donne, who played for Chicago and Washington and won a title with Washington in 2019, said she would have preferred more freedom of movement because of back issues. Reeve, who coached Minnesota to the 2025 WNBA semifinals, said the Lynx requested a league review of a dangerous play earlier this season.

She noted that things have improved this year with officiating and communication with the league.

Parker and Delle Donne both retired from playing in 2023. Parker now works as a broadcast analyst for women's and men's basketball. Delle Donne serves as USA Basketball's managing director for the 3x3 women's national team.

The two said the WNBA's increased popularity has brought more public scrutiny.