Home / Sports / Jemele Hill, Cari Champion Demand WNBA Media Overhaul
Jemele Hill, Cari Champion Demand WNBA Media Overhaul
22 Oct
Summary
- Jemele Hill and Cari Champion voiced concerns about WNBA's media treatment.
- They allege league personnel pressured journalists over critical coverage.
- They believe current WNBA media policies stifle league growth.
Jemele Hill and Cari Champion are calling for a major shift in the WNBA's media relations. The prominent journalists expressed concerns that the league's current policies hinder critical reporting and its overall growth.
Champion recounted instances where WNBA personnel allegedly attempted to pressure journalists and even contacted her employer over specific story angles. She emphasized that the league, unlike decades past, must adapt its communication strategies to the current media landscape and acknowledge that women in sports can handle constructive criticism.
Hill echoed these sentiments, identifying specific media-access policies as detrimental to covering a league that has seen increasing attention. Both experts hope the incoming WNBA commissioner, expected to be announced after Cathy Engelbert's planned retirement at the end of 2026, will adopt a more open approach to media interactions.