Why is one WNBA team calling in national security experts?

The WNBA's popularity has risen in recent years, but so have threats and abuse directed at its players. One team is taking a novel approach to this, by partnering with national security specialists.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5780x3853+0+0/resize/5780x3853!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2Fcd%2F04983bc9448191d1de0c11e2aa96%2Fgettyimages-2291753019.jpg' alt='Natasha Cloud of the Chicago Sky looks on prior to the game against the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on Aug. 23 in Chicago.'/><p>The WNBA's popularity has risen in recent years, but so have threats and abuse directed at its players. One team is taking a novel approach to this, by partnering with national security specialists.</p><p>(Image credit: Michael Reaves)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5947897' />