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[QUOTE="WiseWillie, post: 4950179, member: 13141"]
Guess it's fine to love and appreciate that ESPN carries the games. They've been doing it since 1979 and were the only ones who stepped up when other networks ignored womens sports.  But the reason now is not to fulfill exuberant fans' wishes. It is  because women's sports and particularly women's basketball today is adding $ to their bottom line.

Womens' sports including women's basketball at both the college and professional level is a money maker. 2023 was a banner year for women's sports and this year is expected to be better. In 2023 (well before ESPN's tagging the Clark effect as"redefining the game") the WNBA saw both ticket sales and viewership increase making it the most watched season in over 20 years. Whoever didn't watch the WNBA finals is not a true women's basketball fan. Some of the best basketball ever played in the women's game. Besides the WNBA having a record-setting year, the NCAA and ESPN have signed a new eight year media rights deal that is more than three times the current deal that pays the NCAA about $40 million annually.

So guess we can love and appreciate ESPN to at least 2032.  Now if only they could get some better announcers  :)
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