Add The New York Post on Google Women’s professional sports leagues were conspicuously absent from a joint letter issued Tuesday by the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS and their respective players unions, which called for tougher measures to combat betting-related harassment of athletes, coaches and families.
Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson took issue with the WNBA’s exclusion, noting the issue 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 provided to The Post.
Terri Carmichael Jackson attends Sportico RISE 2026 at Second NYC on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in New York. Sportico via Getty Images The NFL spearheaded the effort to bring sports leagues together to address this issue.
The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS didn’t immediately return The Post’s request for comment.
The omission of other North American women’s professional sports leagues, including the WNBA, NWSL and PWHL, underscored the unequal attention still paid to protecting athletes, particularly women, across sports.
The National Women’s Soccer League Players’ Association learned of the call to action by the men’s professional sports league and unions through media inquiries after news of the memo broke.
“The NWSLPA supports efforts to protect professional athletes in both men’s and women’s sports from harassment and violent threats of all kinds for all reasons, including those of the kind driven by sports betting,” NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke said in a statement.
The WNBA, in particular, has dealt with numerous issues of online harassment directed at players, some of which have been fueled by unhappy gamblers.
In July, Lynx forward Courtney Williams clapped back at someone who sent a profanity-laced direct message on Instagram to her after they didn’t hit on a parlay they made tied to her performance.
Jonquel Jones also called for the league to address the online attacks players face from those who bet on sports.
Courtney Williams of the Minnesota Lynx dribbles the ball during a game against the Washington Mystics on Friday, August 21, 2026, at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. NBAE via Getty Images “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.”
Tuesday’s 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.
The leagues and players unions also called for streamlined reporting mechanisms and accountability from sportsbook operators.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
