There is a pattern forming around WNBA coverage this season, and it’s completely unrelated to what happens on the court. Multiple reporters have been facing heavy backlash from the WNBA community, and it seems to have reached a whole new level that looks quite concerning.
WNBA Reporter Takes a Break After Heavy Backlash
Roberta F. Rodrigues, a Forbes contributor and the founder of Beta Basket, the first women’s basketball news outlet based in Latin America, posted a message on social media Thursday announcing a temporary break in her coverage.
Personal announcement. Effective today, I am taking a small, temporary step back from women’s basketball coverage. Wrote down some thoughts as to why. Not defeated, just tired. Need some time to remind myself of why I love this game. pic.twitter.com/ZbsxPMuTjx
— Roberta 🏳️🌈 (@robertawbb) August 27, 2026
“I’m not defeated. I’m just tired,” Rodrigues mentioned in an unfiltered X post. “Tired from the harassment, the gaslight and the countless attempts to discredit me and my work simply because I am not afraid to name the problems.”
She went further, describing a media environment around the league that she no longer recognizes.
“Seeing the current state of the WNBA, the agents that have been allowed to infiltrate what has been a safe space for the sake of ‘growing the game,’ the chokehold the league, teams, players and media are in because of a specific fan base, has completely taken away the joy of the game for me,” she explained.
The breaking point, according to Rodrigues, was a phone call. Days before her announcement, she posted that fans had located her personal number, resulting in what she described as harassing calls and text messages.
Rodrigues said she intends to return to regular coverage once the WNBA resumes following its break for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, which runs from late August through mid-September. In the meantime, she plans to continue long-form writing for Forbes and behind-the-scenes work for Black Rosie Media, the outlet behind her podcast.
Her decision lands in a media landscape already unsettled by a similar story. Weeks ago, Dallas Wings beat reporter Grant Afseth stepped back from covering the team in person after receiving threatening messages tied to his coverage.
Wings head coach Jose Fernandez also addressed this publicly, calling it disappointing and something no one covering any sport should have to endure.
It’s quite worrying that some fans have taken it to a sad extreme in recent times. The WNBA has issued multiple statements about the hate fans have been dishing out, but it certainly looks like it has reached a toxic state at this point. We can only hope it takes a turn for the better and becomes a safe, healthy environment for all.
