Each year (except 2003 when the WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement was being renegotiated and the season was almost canceled), there has been a WNBA pre-draft combine. The league invites 40 to 50 women to spend 2 or 3 days doing drills and playing games in front of all WNBA Coaches/GMs. The combine has most recently occurred in conjunction with the Women's Final Four. This year, we have been told the combine is cancelled. Below I will briefly explain what I feel this will mean for an athlete. This is especially important because several private "camps" or "combines" have already started advertising to college coaches and athletes as being necessary for a player to get exposure. Some camps even say they are sanctioned, sponsored, endorsed or approved by the WNBA, but this is 100% not true. The WNBA does not have an official or sanctioned camp.
Do NOT be mistaken – these camps are for PROFIT. The agents/people running the camps will charge a fee, and the athletes will also have to pay their own travel and lodging. These camps are also not picky – they usually allow anyone who pays to participate. This creates a situation where the basketball being played is BAD and the risk of injury is very great. Most importantly, VERY, VERY rarely have any of these camps resulted in an athlete being invited to a WNBA training camp. This will especially be true this year, with reduced WNBA roster sizes, training camp limits and one less team. The WNBA and the WNBA teams already have been following the majority of the athletes they feel will be drafted during the college seasons. They know who these players are and what they can do. Going to one of the above camps really cannot do anything to improve a visible player's chances as WNBA teams have already seen her play live and/or on tape. The only women who could potentially be helped are players right on the edge of being considered by the WNBA. Even then, I cannot see how these players could be helped by going to one of these camps – at least helped any greater than by their college coach and/or agent speaking directly with teams on their behalf. The camp games are like being on a playground with playground attitudes and physical play.
Do NOT be mistaken – these camps are for PROFIT. The agents/people running the camps will charge a fee, and the athletes will also have to pay their own travel and lodging. These camps are also not picky – they usually allow anyone who pays to participate. This creates a situation where the basketball being played is BAD and the risk of injury is very great. Most importantly, VERY, VERY rarely have any of these camps resulted in an athlete being invited to a WNBA training camp. This will especially be true this year, with reduced WNBA roster sizes, training camp limits and one less team. The WNBA and the WNBA teams already have been following the majority of the athletes they feel will be drafted during the college seasons. They know who these players are and what they can do. Going to one of the above camps really cannot do anything to improve a visible player's chances as WNBA teams have already seen her play live and/or on tape. The only women who could potentially be helped are players right on the edge of being considered by the WNBA. Even then, I cannot see how these players could be helped by going to one of these camps – at least helped any greater than by their college coach and/or agent speaking directly with teams on their behalf. The camp games are like being on a playground with playground attitudes and physical play.
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