Women’s professional sports leagues were not included in a joint letter issued on September 15, 2026, by the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS, along with their respective players unions. The letter called for stronger measures to combat harassment related to sports betting directed at athletes, coaches, and their families.
Terri Carmichael Jackson, executive director of the WNBA players association, criticized the exclusion, stating that the issue of harassment extends beyond men's sports. "It is deeply disappointing that, given the very public and troubling incidents of betting-related harassment experienced by our members over the past several seasons, the NBA determined that WNBA players did not warrant inclusion in a joint position statement intended to address this very issue," Jackson said in a statement.
The NFL led the initiative to unite the leagues in addressing this concern. The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.
The absence of other North American women’s professional sports leagues, such as the NWSL and PWHL, highlighted the ongoing disparity in attention given to protecting athletes, especially women, across sports. The National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA) became aware of the letter through media inquiries after its announcement. NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke stated, "The NWSLPA supports efforts to protect professional athletes in both men’s and women’s sports from harassment and violent threats of all kinds, including those driven by sports betting."
The WNBA has faced several incidents of online harassment directed at its players, some stemming from dissatisfied gamblers. In July, Lynx guard Courtney Williams responded to a profanity-laden direct message on Instagram from a bettor unhappy with her performance. Liberty center Jonquel Jones also emphasized the need for the league to address online harassment faced by players due to sports betting. "With the sports betting, I think the type of comments that we’re getting online has been horrendous," Jones said last month. "We have to find a way to protect players."
The letter proposed a lifetime ban from legal sportsbooks for individuals who harass or threaten professional or amateur athletes, coaches, officials, team personnel, and their families. Additionally, the leagues and players unions called for improved reporting mechanisms and accountability from sportsbook operators.