Welcome back folks. I ask that you forgive me if this week’s installment of Under Surveillance sounds a bit repetitive, but the same people keep pissing me off in new and exciting ways. We’re about to upgrade to slapping ankle monitors on them, because
I’ve had enough and they need to be separated from civil society and think about how their actions are affecting others, but specifically me. The crime is upsetting me, and the punishment needs to be severe. So, let’s jump right into it.

A special for the Ball-Knowers. Chauny dives into some lore of the WNBA to explain the background behind Chennedy Carter’s complex reputation league wide.

The WNBA All-Star rosters were also revealed today, with team GM’s Teresa Weatherspoon and Cynthia Cooper drafting.

War and Criminal linked up to make an even bigger mess of the WNBA’s image today. A report came out of Adam Silver intervening and pressing for the suspension of Alyssa Thomas. A counter report dropped on behalf of the WNBA saying “that’s not true!” and that it was the WNBA Referee Operations/Basketball Operations made the push.

The initial report had a conveniently anonymous source say Cathy Engelbert is going out of her way to not show favoritism to Caitlin Clark as not to hurt the feelings of move veteran players and…ok man.

If Cathy had taken control of her league, which includes the narratives surrounding it and the overall identity, these claims would hold no weight because we would be able to say whether it fits with Cathy’s established tone. But she didn’t do that. She said Magic vs. Bird and threw her hands in the air so now we’ve got fodder for Fox News and the like to run with as they continue to create unnecessary dialogue rooted in nothing but bigotry and antagonizing minorities.

Adam Silver is also a culprit because your league still employs Miles Bridges so maybe stfu for a second and focus on what matters instead of making a mess over here. He has shown through his words and his actions before Caitlinmania that he’s not the girldad boss guy he’s now trying to pivot into. I ain’t forgot how he said it was more lucrative to invest in E-Sports than the WNBA a few years ago.

Ozempic Lex Luther is also on my s--- list because you opened the door to degenerate sports gamblers to terrorize both leagues. Athletes are constantly posting about how somebody verbally denigrated them in the DMs for cooking a parlay. To then allow a
partnership between the league and gambling companies without any protections in place for your athletes is malpractice. And this critique extends to athletes like LeBron James endorsing DraftKings. Respect to the legend, but Lisa Leslie allowing her
legendary name, likeness and beautiful image to be in a Prize Picks commercial is nasty work to me when you fast forward to this week when Chelsea Gray posted a racist message received from a man that appeared to be heavy into the gambling world. If
higher-ups can’t stop it from being legalized widespread, they have absolutely got to do something to safeguard their players.

Earlier this week Paige Bueckers as inexplicably asked about the lack of black female head coaches in the WNBA. Paige gave the correct answer for someone in her position and from there she was propped up as the antithesis to Caitlin Clark and the ultimate
ally.

As a black woman, I find that so incredibly insulting. You asked a white woman about an issue affecting black women so you could garner praise for the white woman? Like are there any follow ups to Curt Miller on Paige’s comments and why Nola Henry followed
him from Connecticut to L.A. then to Dallas and wasn’t promoted even after the departure of Chris Koclanes? Because that’s the story and that’s the way we enact the change we claim we want to see, not virtue signaling for viral content. I would like people to stop using Paige as a pawn in this whole thing as well because we’re getting away from the issues she even speaks on to center her and that’s quite counterproductive.

At the time this went to print, the Sky had just beaten the Seattle Storm 95-90 in a kid’s camp game. More importantly they played without Skylar Diggins for the 4 th game in a row after her public spat over her being moved to the bench. This is a horrible look for
the franchise and the league because we have way too many instances of players taking random leaves of absence then separating from the team and I feel there’s an overall lack of professionalism that needs to be rectified. Skylar should’ve been suspended for that rant, period. But you can’t because you made her the Big Bad Wolf at the beginning of the season that you were working to please and appease. Now you look goofy and your team is still in 12 th place. Congratulations.

Don’t erase the Black players who built the W by Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

The New York Liberty are the most confusing team in the WNBA by Joseph Amoateng, High Post Hoops

Lynne Roberts confident Sparks’ guard duo will find their ‘sea legs’ by David Yapokowitz, Clutchpoints

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