Jemele Hill Takes Side In Ongoing WNBA Locker Rooms Debate

Should reporters be allowed in WNBA locker rooms following games?

Professional sports leagues like the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL all have open locker room policies for media following games. There's usually a cooldown period, allowing athletes to change and shower. But then, reporters are allowed inside, so they can speak and approach whatever athletes or coaches they choose.

The WNBA has not allowed this.

ESPN reporter Ben Baby called out the WNBA's locker room policies on social media during the season opening weekend.

"It still remains wholly ridiculous that the WNBA doesn't have an open locker room media policy. The only major sport in the U.S. that doesn't have it. Bad for the fans and the growth of the game," he wrote.

Hill takes a clear side

Hill, who previously covered the WNBA, made it clear that she is on the side of the reporter.

"As someone who has been in out and of locker rooms their entire career, the rule for the NBA is that there was a 10-minute cooling off period and then all reporters were allowed in the locker room. The WNBA used to be this way as well. You aren't allowed in the shower area. And most times when an athlete exited the shower to their locker, a lot of us would turn our backs to allow them privacy. I can tell you in my years covering the W, I rarely saw players naked or near nudity. They usually just waited until the access period was over. As for the men, a lot of them didn't care. They were fine with being interviewed in the nude. And while people might find this weird, the locker room access time is very valuable. You get to talk to all the players and build rapport," she wrote.

Should the WNBA have open locker rooms?

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This story was originally published May 10, 2026 at 11:50 AM.