The WNBA saw a huge incline in recognition during the 2024 season. Players are now on the map going into the new season, and all eyes are on them going forward, with young talent flooding into the league.
Nevertheless, players need a way to supplement their WNBA salaries. European leagues are very popular with WNBA players, particularly in the offseason because it allows them to earn good money and gain valuable playing experience against various levels of players. Unrivaled, a 3x3 league, made its debut this offseason and also found success. It’s been a packed year for fans of women’s basketball.
Now, more and more WNBA players will also find themselves playing overseas to compete in the EuroBasket this summer, representing countries such as Germany, France, Great Britain, and Belgium to name a few.
How will EuroBasket impact the Indiana Fever?
There is one problem with this competition and it doesn't involve the Indiana Fever. Because EuroBasket takes place in June, during the WNBA season, teams will have to go without key players. Last summer, the 2024 Olympics took place during the season, but the whole league saw a month-long break. EuroBasket, however, does not create any time off for players. It goes on for 11 days during the WNBA season, spanning from June 18 to June 29, not including at least four additional days for travel.
The Indiana Fever are one of few teams in the league that will not be in jeopardy of losing any players during this phase, which easily puts them at an advantage over other teams. Observing the entire projected roster of the Fever, they do not have any European-based players on their team. They will be at full strength during this time. Teams that will be most affected by this include the Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries, and even the New York Liberty.
While EuroBasket is taking place, the Fever will be facing these teams that will be hit the hardest and can gain ground in the standings during this time while playing at full strength. The schedule for the Fever during this time will include the Aces, Valkyries, and the Liberty. Fever fans should be excited about this because it gives the Fever a clear path to winning the Commissioner's Cup tournament.
If the Fever can stay healthy, they shouldn't be fazed going into the final stretch of the season. Teams missing some of their key players can negatively impact the flow of a season for a bunch of teams. The Fever’s roster will be complete during this time, and hopefully, they won't have to worry about having to play catch up to several of the top teams in the league during this time.