The year-round, globetrotting life of WNBA players was thrust into the spotlight in recent months after star center Brittney Griner was arrested at a Russian airport in February just before the country’s invasion of Ukraine. While the overwhelming concern continues to be getting her home safely and swiftly, her case re-enflamed the debate about why so many WNBA players go overseas during the league’s long offseason.

Is it because they love to hoop and want to work on their game and travel the world? Or is it all about the money? Are they victims of gender-based pay inequality in the U.S., forced into a financial choice that jeopardizes their safety and well-being?

As in all things, it depends on whom you ask.

In her pre-draft press conference earlier this month, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters, “I think one of the narratives — that the players have to go overseas — is a little bit outdated actually, I think, and inaccurate.” After describing league efforts to enhance domestic financial opportunities for players in the offseason she said, “We’ve been paying players this year to do marketing outside of them having to go overseas, but players are still going to want to play basketball. One thing I learned, and I didn’t know this before I came into the league, they want to play basketball year-round.”

WNBA Players Association President Nneka Ogwumike had a different perspective. The morning after the draft, the Los Angeles Sparks forward appeared on “Good Morning America” to discuss Griner’s status.

“The reality is she’s over there because of a gender issue, pay inequity,” she told Robin Roberts. “We go over there to supplement our incomes and, quite frankly, to maintain our game. Our teams encourage us to keep up with our game by going over there and being more competitive … We don’t want to play 12 months out of the year. We don’t want to feel as though we have to go over there to get what we want to get at home.”

To shed more light on the players’ perspective, Just Women’s Sports spoke with three current WNBA players about their overseas basketball life: the good, the bad and the surprising.

Ariel Atkins, entering her fifth year in the league with the Washington Mystics, spoke to us on the eve of her final game with her Ukrainian team, whose lives had just been completely upended by the Russian invasion. Brionna Jones, a six-year veteran and the WNBA’s 2021 Most Improved Player, was in the midst of an MVP-caliber run in Europe’s most competitive league when we caught up with her long distance from the Czech Republic. And Erica McCall, also entering her sixth year in the league, chatted with us from Istanbul, where she was wrapping up her annual stint abroad before heading back to the states to rejoin Atkins in D.C. (McCall was later waived from the Mystics’ final roster.)

Each WNBA player’s experience abroad is unique, but the common themes that surfaced in the conversations with these three players are revelatory for how we think about the game both at home and abroad. And though we often hear from the biggest names in the league about key issues, it’s arguably the other 90 percent of players whose livelihoods are the most dependent on overseas income.

1. The hardships are … hard

The toughest challenges for those who play overseas are inadequate time with family and physical strain on the body, all three players shared.

“I don’t see my family a lot, miss a lot of holidays and birthdays and all that good stuff,” McCall said. “And so, it’s always gonna be hard. Especially these past few years, I’ve missed Christmas, and Christmas is such a huge part of my family tradition.”

For those who play for European teams, which often offer the highest salaries, there is virtually no gap between the end of their WNBA seasons and the start of their overseas commitments. It’s the same on the backend, with overseas seasons typically running into the early weeks of the WNBA. The windows of time for them to return home and visit with their families are few and far between. Opportunities to rest and rehab their bodies are equally scarce. Jones said the quality of the physio support has started to become a bigger factor in signing international contracts.

“The treatment and stuff that we get at home in the States is a lot better than what we have available here,” she said. “Not having that time to recover between seasons, you need that treatment to get you through.”

Atkins said she tries to be smarter about taking physical risks on the court overseas.

“There are some plays where you just gotta make a career decision. Like, do I really need that steal? Do I really need this stop?” she said. “When it’s time to put my body on the line, I’m willing and able to do it because I didn’t waste it early on just trying to get a random loose ball that’s probably gonna go out of bounds anyway.”

2. Players aren’t asking for much

A surprising commonality for all three players was what it would require to make the year-round grind of their profession much easier. The answer? Not a lot.

“I need a month somewhere,” Jones said when asked what her ideal schedule would be. “A whole month together, either before I go back to the W or after the W’s over. Just like a month off to rest and recover.”

It was the same answer for McCall. “I would love for the overseas season to be one month shorter so that we can all go home, recuperate, let our bodies rest,” she said. “A month would be amazing for me. And be able to get our bodies ready for the WNBA season.”

For Atkins too, a month between is all she wants. “That sounds like a lot of time, but it not only gives me time to rest and see my family, it also gives me time to focus on one or two things that I want to add to my game. And it lets me breathe,” she said.

3. There are some serious upsides

The WNBA is one of the most competitive sports leagues in the U.S. in terms of the number of roster spots available, and the depth of talent vying for them. The three-month regular season creates a pressure-cooker environment where playing time is scarce and expectations are high.

When that top-level talent spreads out around the globe during the offseason, players can expand their roles a bit more.

“I would say that I definitely do some things here, and I have a lot more freedom with my coaches here than I would back in Connecticut,” Jones said. “We have so much talent there, so I do what I do well in Connecticut to bring that to the team. But over here, I get to do a little bit more.”

All three players talked about how they play more freely overseas and are able to develop their in-game skill sets.

“Just not thinking so much,” Atkins said. “I think that’s my biggest thing that I’m allowed to do overseas is that I build up that muscle of not overthinking things in the game and just allow myself to flow and trust the work that we’ve put in.”

The overseas season can also be a crucial counterbalance for young players struggling to secure their footing in the WNBA.

“I always loved overseas because even though when I was in Indiana, I wasn’t playing a lot, I always had overseas to fall back on to display my skill set, to remind myself how great of a player I was,” McCall said. “Honestly, I was losing my confidence in my first three years of the league, and I loved overseas because I could come back and really show the basketball player that I was.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Erica McCall (@birdstheword_24)

Their abroad seasons also give them the chance to become more vocal leaders. Because the WNBA is viewed as the most elite women’s professional basketball league in the world, their overseas coaches and teammates expect them to be leaders right away.

“I think me playing for this team this year has really helped me with that. It has forced me to kind of step out of my comfort zone,” Atkins said. “I feel like a lot of times, I get nervous about speaking up, but I don’t really get that choice here.”

“Having a chance to be more vocal with your team, it’s a pretty cool opportunity to have,” McCall said. “That’s helped me a lot, going back to the WNBA, just allowing myself to be more comfortable, be more vocal with my teammates, not being afraid to push them to be better.”

These inconspicuous upsides demonstrate that, even if WNBA salaries eventually become high enough to nullify overseas contracts, there are valuable on-court benefits to having some type of offseason developmental league. And, of course, if the WNBA schedule, number of franchises and roster sizes expand significantly in tandem with salaries, there would be more space for in-house player development.

4. It’s not just the salaries that are better overseas

Crazy, diehard, intense — that’s how the players described the game atmosphere abroad. Women’s basketball fans overseas (at least in Europe) have a consistent track record of being loud, invested and loyal supporters of their teams. The EuroLeague semifinal game between Istanbul’s Fenerbahce and Hungary’s Sopron Basket last month provided a clear image of this reality. With constant crowd-wide chants, organized cheers, referee heckling and raucous celebrations, the arena overseas more closely resembled international soccer stadiums than American basketball sporting events.

Greatest atmosphere in #EuroLeagueWomen history. 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗗.

THE ROOF IS GOING OFF THE BUILDING IN ISTANBUL! 👏😱 pic.twitter.com/8ZKHc8ka8y

— EuroLeague Women (@EuroLeagueWomen) April 8, 2022

“It was really cool that women’s sports were so well respected and that everyone wanted to come out and see the women’s basketball team playing,” McCall said. “You don’t get that in the States. You don’t get that type of respect that we had or receive. And that’s something that I really enjoy about overseas basketball — the love for the game is just at a different level.”

“The fans can get quite rowdy,” Jones said. “I’ve played in France and Spain, and those are some of the best fans … I definitely think they do a really good job of promoting the women’s side over here.”

While there are marketing lessons to glean from the overseas leagues, the players believe it’s more about geographical identity than anything else.

“I think they’re diehard for their city and where they’re from. Whoever puts that flag on, they’re like, ‘This is my team,’” Atkins said. “In the States, you have options. You can be a Lakers fan, but you can be from Philly. That’s probably not gonna fly overseas.”

McCall described the fans of her Turkish Besitkas team much the same. “When you’re born, you choose the team, and this is your team for your life and this is the life that you live. You live a Besiktas fan life,” she said. “It’s very intense, win or lose … Live and die, this is what they love. It can be intense.”

For the fans these players have come to know, it’s not about whether you’re a fan of women’s basketball, but whether you support your city or your country, regardless of sport and gender. While that nationalistic fervor can’t necessarily be duplicated in the U.S., the lesson for WNBA teams may be to continue efforts to tap into the city loyalty and identity of their fan bases. The new coalition formed among women’s pro sports teams in D.C. will be an interesting test case along these lines.

5. Prioritization is going to be a problem

Even before Griner’s arrest, the issue of overseas contracts for WNBA players was approaching a tipping point. Widely praised for its salary increases and improved benefits for players, the WNBA’s groundbreaking CBA also included a new “WNBA Prioritization” clause that largely averted the limelight when the deal was ratified in early 2020.

This new rule dictates that, starting with the 2023 season, fines and suspensions will be implemented for veteran-level players who do not report to their WNBA teams by certain prescribed dates (e.g., the start of training camp).

Most European basketball leagues, where the majority of players go in the offseason, run past the start date of the WNBA season, causing a significant number of players to show up late to their U.S. teams. The delayed arrivals of so many key players is a serious detriment to on-court cohesion and the league’s ability to maximize its product for the compact three-month regular season. But most players earn more money from their overseas contracts, often by a large margin, making it very unlikely they’ll simply opt out or break the terms of those lucrative deals.

The players we spoke with, however, don’t blame league officials for the dilemma they will soon be facing.

“I know the league is in a tough position because they want their athletes here,” McCall said. “It makes it really challenging. I understand where the league is coming from, but at the end of the day, for players like myself, it just makes it hard for us to be able to make a good living and also live out our dreams.”

“I understand what the WNBA was going for and trying to get players to prioritize playing in America,” Jones said. “But I’m getting paid more to play overseas and I can give up these three months [of the WNBA season] and make a lot more money playing overseas and save my body.”

When asked whether she would consider sitting out the WNBA season completely, Jones admitted, “I would consider it for sure, if it came to that.”

Even though players admit the intentions of the prioritization clause were noble, no one wants the players to bear the brunt of the consequences of a global sporting system with a scheduling conflict. The negative consequences of the rule are looming: It wouldn’t be surprising to see well-known players opt out of the WNBA altogether, or the league be criticized for handicapping their players’ earning ability. But Engelbert and her colleagues are hoping for patience from players and constituents while they continue to grow the at-home earning potential of their athletes.

One major domino in this effort will fall in 2024, when the WNBA’s grossly undervalued broadcast deal with ESPN expires, leaving many hopeful that new revenue streams for salary boosts are on the not-so-distant horizon.

With Griner detained in Russia instead of in the jump circle for the Phoenix Mercury’s tipoff against the Las Vegas Aces this Friday, and the prioritization clause looming, the global nature of women’s pro basketball is headed for major upheaval.

One way to reach pragmatic solutions for the hurdles ahead is to have open conversations about the challenges at stake. McCall herself is working to get more players’ stories told with her “Bird’s Eye View” podcast, where she chats with fellow WNBA players about their experiences overseas. As a seasoned vet looking back, she has well-earned advice for young players going abroad for the first time.

“Overseas is all about what you make it, and that’s what I really try to explain in my podcast — it’s all about a mindset,” she said. “It makes you a better player. It makes you a better person and ultimately helps grow your game. And you’ve got stories to tell. You’ve always got a story to tell.”

Tessa Nichols is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports.

When San Diego's home match against the Washington Spirit ended in a 0-0 draw on June 22nd, the NWSL officially pressed pause on the regular season, entering an extended summer break as international tournaments kicked off around the world.

And while the US club league has dimmed its lights before — most recently during the 2024 Paris Olympics — this is the first year it's ever stopped play to accommodate major regional competitions like Copa América, WAFCON, and UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

Why the new approach? The league's global presence has never been stronger. And that's not just because high-profile players like Naomi Girma and Crystal Dunn swapped their NWSL jerseys for European kits earlier this year. It goes the other way, too. Once an assumed stronghold for homegrown talent, the NWSL has diversified its ranks, with top players heading overseas this window.

US broadcasters buy into growing Euros interest

No event has showcased this shift greater than the European Championship. The tournament was once siloed away from the average Stateside soccer fan. But this year, 18 NWSL players representing 12 countries are Switzerland-bound — three-times the number playing in England just three years ago.

And fans are ready to dig in. The 2025 Euros will be the most accessible in history, with FOX Sports recently doubling down on broadcasting the competition in the US.

The network has committed to 31 matches, including 19 games on linear TV and every knockout round match. It will also provide pre- and post-game analysis, aiming to develop a major market player while riding out the sport's popularity boom.

With increased visibility and plenty of familiar faces, NWSL fans are set to become Euro 2025's prime audience. And for players, showcasing the league's impact shapes the perception of football in the US, allowing the NWSL the opportunity to strengthen its reputation despite never taking the pitch this July.

Euros stars say perceptions of the NWSL are shifting

Only one NWSL player featured on England's 2022 Euros-winning roster. That was Houston forward-turned-defender Rachel Daly, before she returned to the WSL and retired from international play. 

That number tripled in 2025, after Gotham FC defender Jess Carter, Spirit defender Esme Morgan, and Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse were called up to the Lionesses's title defense in Switzerland.

It's not Carter's first Euros, but this will be the first year she joins from an NWSL team. An England mainstay since her 2017 senior debut, she said she never felt like a move to the US would jeopardize her national team standing. Just so long as her performance stayed consistent.

"People were probably apprehensive about coming here before, because it's so far away from your family and friends," Carter told Just Women's Sports. "But also because the NWSL was traditionally known as just a transitional league. And to a lot of people in Europe, it wasn't technical enough."

Carter isn't alone in her assessment. Both Morgan and Moorhouse told JWS they were familiar with the NWSL's reputation as a "kick and run" league. Though that stereotype didn't match their experiences on the ground.

"Most [NWSL] teams are trying to play possession-based football, albeit a little more direct than Europe," Morgan said. "I think that's far more exciting to be a part of, and also more challenging as a defender because there are such fast transitions."

"The league is changing here in the US," echoed Carter, who departed Chelsea for Gotham in 2024. "It's becoming more technical."

NWSL play helped Morgan secure her spot with England

That hybrid style — plus more starting opportunities — have bolstered Morgan's status with England. Coach Sarina Wiegman already knew the Manchester City product as a powerful line-breaker on the ball. And her ability to wear down the low block while holding the lion's share of possession has only improved. 

"I felt confident coming here," she continued. "As long as I continued to work on the things that I wanted to improve, and every weekend was putting in good performances for the Spirit, that would be enough to put me in the running for selection."

The NWSL's speed has also elevated her play. "[Wiegman] has spoken to me the last couple of times about being really pleased with what I've been able to do, in terms of being a little bit more aggressive, proactive, physical in my duels, and winning aerial balls," she said. "I've developed so much in that space since playing in America."

Both Morgan and Carter competed with England at the 2023 World Cup, 30-year-old Moorehouse is gearing up for her first major tournament with the national team. And coming from an Orlando side stacked with international talent — namely Brazil legend Marta and Zambia superstar Barbra Banda, among others — the goalie credited her NWSL team for keeping her on her toes every day.

"Marta humbles me on a daily basis, I'm not gonna lie," she laughed. "To see that day in-day out, it's only for the better. It's only going to improve my game."

Summer NWSL schedule benefits Euros-bound players

As coveted national team roster spots reflect both consistency and form, NWSL players have a quiet advantage. Thanks to the summer NWSL schedule, they're guaranteed to be completely match-fit going into any major tournament.

That the NWSL runs opposite to the more traditional fall-to-spring European setup has sometimes been a point of tension overseas. This was especially true in past years, when the league did not suspend regular-season play for more than a weekend or two during longer international windows. That practice forced previous Euros competitors to choose between club and country. 

This year, however, players view the cross-conditioning to be as much of an asset as an anticipated challenge when they return to finish out the season.

"I spoke to quite a few of the US girls in the past about the fact that the summer schedule might have helped their performance in international tournaments," said Morgan, pointing out the NWSL-heavy USWNT's major tournament success.

"I feel like I'm peaking at the right time, going into the tournament in midseason," echoed Moorhouse, who is set to serve as backup to Chelsea goalkeeper and presumptive England starter Hannah Hampton.

Learning to balance club and country

Still, there are downsides. It's not always easy to travel in and out of market ahead of a big international opportunity, but each player finds their own way to stay on top of whichever task is in front of them, whether at home or abroad.

Sometimes that divide between club and country is literal. "We have a [NWSL] team app where we have communication," Gotham and Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger told media after her Euros call-up. "I was like, 'Look, if you need something, you have to text me on WhatsApp. Because this app is not working for me when I'm at the international break, and the same way around.'"

For Carter, the NWSL's schedule helps her compartmentalize, keeping her laser-focused on both individual and team goals.

"I'm someone that either is all in or all off," she explained. "I've got to make sure that I'm still eating right, training right, when all I want to do is sit by the beach and have an ice cream."

"I want fans to fall in love with women's football even more"

Carter and Berger aren't the only Gotham standouts packing their passports this month. Star forward Esther González is also committed to play for the always-dangerous Spanish national team. Fellow forward Jéssica Silva will represent Portugal and recent signing Josefine Hasbo is set to join Denmark. And the excitement is palpable, both on and off the pitch.

"It's really great to see that our fans get to support us even whilst we're not at Gotham. Because they're invested in us as people, not just Gotham," says Carter. "I want fans to fall in love with women's football even more, regardless of where it's being played."

As for Morgan, she could be battling against the Spirit's newest signing, Italy's Sofia Cantore. The rest of their teammates will definitely be watching from home — along with a very special guest.

Before Morgan left, her teammates assured her they would be up in the morning cheering her on. "And mak[ing] my kitten watch too, which is very cute," she added.

She said she likes imagining NWSL fans following their favorite club players through the tournament, staying engaged in the game even as the league takes a break.

Encouraging NWSL fans to watch the 2025 Euros

Moorhouse echoed Morgan's hope that the Euros will allow US fans to continue weaving women's football into their lives during the downtime.

"In the US, when I get up on a Saturday morning, all the games are on," she said, referencing the time change. "To me, that's so cool. I'm eating my breakfast, drinking my coffee, and I've just got football on the telly."

"Go and get your breakfast," she urged. "Get your pancakes. And watch some good football."

The third Grand Slam of 2025 is officially underway, as the world's top tennis stars hit the grass courts in London for the annual Wimbledon Championships on Monday.

World No. 16 Barbora Krejčíková enters as the Slam's reigning champion, with all of the WTA's current Top 10 — none of whom have ever won at Wimbledon — looking to dethrone the 2024 victor.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula looks to be an early frontrunner, as the US star picked up steam following her defeat of No. 4 Iga Świątek 6-4, 7-5 in Saturday's championship match of the 2025 Bad Homburg Open, a Wimbledon tune-up tournament.

A 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, Pegula has already earned three titles this year, gaining significant momentum as she hunts a career-first Grand Slam trophy.

"[Pegula has] an amazing game, and showed it throughout the tournament," Świątek said following Saturday's loss. "Hopefully, we will have many more finals together."

The first day of 2025 Wimbledon action saw No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka cruise through her first-round match against Canada's No. 194 Carson Branstine in straight sets, while No. 8 Madison Keys battled to a narrow three-set victory over Romania's No. 58 Elena-Gabriela Ruse.

Fellow US contender No. 12 Amanda Anisimova played the most dominant first-round match of the Slam, ousting Kazakhstan's No. 33 Yulia Putintseva 6-0, 6-0 to open her tournament run.

Italy's No. 5 Jasmine Paolini, a 2024 Wimbledon finalist, also kicked off her 2025 run with a win, downing Latvia's No. 402 Anastasija Sevastova in three sets on Monday afternoon.

Pegula will open her campaign against Italy's No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto on the second day of first-round action at 6 AM ET, with Świątek, 2025 French Open champ No. 2 Coco Gauff, and 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinalist No. 10 Emma Navarro also rounding out Tuesday's bill.

How to watch the 2025 Wimbledon Championships

The 2025 Wimbledon women's tournament runs through the July 12th championship.

Live continuous coverage of the London Grand Slam airs on ESPN.

The Minnesota Lynx are back on the prowl, after the return of MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier from injury fueled the WNBA-leaders to two straight weekend wins.

Minnesota first outlasted the No. 4 Atlanta Dream 96-92 in overtime on Friday before thumping the last-place Connecticut Sun 102-63 on Sunday, with Collier racking up 49 points over the two-game span.

Collier's bounce-back couldn't have come at a better time, as the WNBA announced Sunday that the Lynx forward will captain the 2025 All-Star Game alongside Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

"It's really cool," Collier said of the news. "I went from never being a starter to captain."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

Both Collier and Clark will have an early chance to test their leadership skills in Tuesday's 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup championship game, when the defending champs Minnesota Lynx will take on first-time finalists Indiana.

With a second straight title on the line, red-hot Minnesota hold the advantage coming into the Commissioner's Cup final, but a healthy Clark could make all the difference for up-and-down No. 8 Indiana.

Meanwhile in the WNBA standings, as the Lynx continue to hold court at the top, this weekend saw the Mercury overtake the Liberty at No. 2, thanks in large part to Phoenix's 106-91 Friday victory over New York.

Along with Sunday's 90-81 loss to the Dream, the reigning champs have dropped five of their last seven games, as now-No. 3 New York struggles without injured center Jonquel Jones.

How to watch the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup final

While the other 11 league teams rest until Thursday, the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever will take Tuesday's court in a battle for the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup.

The in-season tournament's grand finale will tip off at 8 PM ET, with live coverage on Prime.

The world No. 1 USWNT earned another lopsided result against No. 25 Ireland on Sunday, handing the Girls in Green a second straight 4-0 loss despite extensive lineup changes on both sides.

Veteran forward Lynn Biyendolo opened the scoring in her first match as USWNT captain, followed by first-ever senior team goals from both debutant defender Izzy Rodriguez and attacker Yazmeen Ryan.

Second-half USWNT sub Alyssa Thompson found the back of the net in the 86th minute to finish padding the 4-0 scoreline over Ireland.

With one more friendly against No. 8 Canada set for Wednesday, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes rotated all 11 starters on Sunday, trusting bubble players to overcome inexperience to produce a result.

"The level has been set to be relentless in the pursuit of performing and progressing," Hayes said after the game. "It's not about understanding everything in our playbook, but developing the confidence and bravery to deliver."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Just Women’s Sports (@justwomenssports)

The victory also marked the USWNT's 600th program win, with midfielder Sam Meza joining Rodriguez in picking up the 23rd and 24th first caps of the Emma Hayes era.

"I feel like everyone is not only trusting the process, but carrying out all the things we ask them to do," said Hayes of her new additions. "Everybody showed themselves so well."

Though the US keeps stretching its depth and coming out on top, the need to develop strong connections on the pitch could force tough roster decisions in the future.

How to watch the USWNT vs. Canada on Wednesday

The USWNT will cap their three-friendly summer break against rivals Canada on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET.

Live coverage of the clash in Washington, DC, will air on TNT.