As WNBA teams and players make their way down to Florida to play the entire 2020 season at IMG Academy, many were greeted with ugly living conditions.
The bubble is designed to keep players safe and healthy while the season begins, but so far it looks to be doing the opposite. One source told Deadspin that bed bugs have been found in the rooms of two teams, forcing them to move. Additionally, the source explained that the meals were so unappetizing that some players refused to eat them.
RELATED: WHO ISN'T PLAYING IN THE WNBA SEASON
Mystics star Elena Delle Donne took to Twitter to voice her opinion on the matter. Like many others, she was incredibly disgusted with the situation.
Unacceptable. https://t.co/HgY4n6McjQ
— Elena Delle Donne (@De11eDonne) July 7, 2020
Delle Donne, meanwhile, has not announced whether or not she is playing this season. The team arrived at the bubble on Monday but it is unclear if the reigning WNBA MVP was there too.
Besides the source, video evidence of the living quarters has surfaced, and it makes things look even worse. A viral thread on Twitter shows a beaten-down, dirty laundry room with mouse traps, a carpet that has worms in it and a boxed meal that gives the MLS sandwich situation a run for its money.
just got this video from one of the laundry rooms inside the WNBA "bubble" and couldn't be more disturbed. this is not ok. pic.twitter.com/6FC10jlcql
— Kayla Johnson (@klajohnson) July 7, 2020
What appears to be a worm found on the floor of one of the rooms pic.twitter.com/WRZYTxdbGo
— Kayla Johnson (@klajohnson) July 7, 2020
this was a meal option served to some WNBA players. i don't think they would have agreed if this is what was advertised. pic.twitter.com/C9PjykUd3l
— Kayla Johnson (@klajohnson) July 7, 2020
Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson confirmed that those videos do accurately depict the current living situation for the players.
Like ppl funny but this fr our laundry room 🥴
— A'ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) July 7, 2020
Breanna Stewart also shared an Instagram story that showed bed bug traps under a bed.
Lexie Brown of Minnesota Lynx chimed in as well but shared a different opinion than others. While she agrees the conditions are wrong and need to be fixed, she wanted the public to know that now every team has dealt with the unsanitary quarters.
i gotta step in and say that as disgusting and unacceptable as that video is.......
— Lexie Brown (@lexiekiah_4) July 7, 2020
where i am staying (as well we many others) is super nice.
can't watch people shit on our league more than they already do.
The teams are currently in a quarantine period upon arrival, meaning they must stay in the room that features poor conditions as the league works to make changes. The bubble experiment is something many leagues, including the NBA, are working through in the coming months. The beginning of the WNBA's time in Florida reveals more huddles that these leagues must face in these new environments.
Stay connected with the MyTeams app. Click here to download for comprehensive coverage of your teams.
MORE MYSTICS NEWS:
- Power Rankings: Mystics reign at No. 1
- New Threats: Moves that could hurt Mystics
- Cloud: Opt out shouldn't be a surprise
Elena Delle Donne disapproves of some conditions in WNBA bubble originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington