Wow. NBA's Adam Silver stated something like, "We have supported the WNBA. Where are the fans?" NBA owners are restless with this product. Especially when players are threatening to strike for more pay.

ESPN seems to be pumping the WNBA. This feels like MTV feeling they can create music artists a long time ago.

We'll see.

I was a big fan of the WNBA in the early days but it takes a lot to get engaged and besides, there are more longer established sports which hold my attention greater. They probably literally need supermodel looking girls to play to get a good market share.

C2: I was going to say the need a heterosexual/feminine star.

They don't need just one, they need many.

I wonder what amount of attendance they are looking for

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236...ttendance/

Wide variation in attendance per franchise. The 5K + franchises would seem to be in good shape. The 4 bottom ones need to step it up or be moved.

(02-01-2023 05:21 PM)chess Wrote:  Wow. NBA's Adam Silver stated something like, "We have supported the WNBA. Where are the fans?" NBA owners are restless with this product. Especially when players are threatening to strike for more pay.

ESPN seems to be pumping the WNBA. This feels like MTV feeling they can create music artists a long time ago.

We'll see.

The WNBA is an inferior product to the NBA and men's college basketball. No matter what type of business we are talking about, you can't shame the consumers into supporting a lesser product, no matter how noble your intention is.

Second, Bill Burr correctly pointed out in his classic standup, most women don't watch the WNBA. If they supported the WNBA like they watch the Kardashian/Jenner crew or the Real Housewives they'd be rolling in the bucks. Women have nobody to blame but women for this issue.

The PAC 12 and the WNBA are essentially the only right left in America for the next few years. WNBA has more leverage than you think.


In the mid-00's I went to WNBA games in Charlotte, Houston and Sacaton just because I was traveling and wanted to see sport. I knew those women and liked the game. I went to a Las Vegas Aces playoff game last August and it was fantastic. The players are so much better, the game presentation was better than the crowd was active and rowdy.

They're undervalued currently so as their CBA is locked in through 2028, so the next media contract will blow away the current one and will also keep their salaries down too.

Nothing against the grown of womens basketball but until a) more women get interested in it and put their money where their mouth is behind it, b) they get better sponsorship deals, and ....well.... have more "attractive" players to gain male viewers it ends up being a subsidized entity for gender equality.

There are just certain female played sports that generate more interest...

And in basketball, more so than say women's hockey, you want to see dunking and high-flying plays...its not there in the womens game.