The WNBA sets a powerful standard for inclusive representation across the organization when it comes to players, coaches, staff, and administration. This year, the WNBA added a package of new diversity and inclusion and social justice initiates.
Some of the WNBA’s biggest improvements came in the percentage of women head coaches which increased by 16.6 percentage points, from 41,7% in 2021 to 58.3% in 2022. This marks the first time the WNBA has had women fill more than half of the head coaching positions in the league since 2010. Half of the head coaches are also African American. Players of color make up 81.1 percent of the WNBA with 70.3% being African American. Meanwhile, in the league office, the percent of people of color was 41.8 percent in 2022 while 69.4 percent were women.
Some of the new initiatives included wearing special Juneteenth warm up shirts, as well as having a conversation with Elizabeth Williams of the Atlanta Dream on the significance of the day. The league also promoted civic engagement by working ahead of the 2022 midterm elections to further promote the work they have focused on by empowering communities through voter registration and voting rights education and advocacy.
The league and teams also selected together, non-profit organizations in each market that are tied to voting in each team’s local community and also donated over $165,000 spread across 12 chosen non-profits.
Other programs included “She’s Invested: Supporting Emerging Female Leaders,” food insecurity, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, combatting anti-Asian hate, health and wellness and gender equality. The WNBA was also honored with the 2022 League Humanitarian Leadership Award at the 2022 ESPYS. The award recognizes professional sports leagues that use their platforms and resources to make a difference. ESPN added that, “WNBA has transcended the game of basketball by working with local communities, fighting for equality, and promoting health equity, LGBTQ+ representation and criminal justice reform.”
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