The NBA's shadowy hand in the WNBA is stifling women’s basketball.

Some might argue that the NBA’s oversight provides necessary financial backing, ensuring stability in an otherwise volatile market where women's sports struggle financially without corporate giants behind them.

The risk lies in maintaining a facade of empowerment while actual decision-making power remains out-of-reach for WNBA players and leadership.

As WNBA players continue pushing boundaries on court while off-court issues simmer under the surface, expect growing tensions between autonomy desires and financial reliance. This year’s schedule might be seen more like a temporary fix than sustainable progress towards true independence for women's basketball.

Human tribalism will likely split this vote down gender lines: fierce support from those backing female empowerment in sports versus staunch loyalty to the status quo among traditional male-dominated leagues and their supporters.