- Joined
- Nov 18, 2021
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Tonight, the battle of Iowa will be played. Last year’s game between Iowa & Iowa St catapulted Caitlin Clark onto the national scene. ESPN has a great article highlighting the game & rivalry. Rivalries are great for the game, but players are what make people tune in. This is where Paige & Clark can be the springboard for the future of the WNBA.
In the 70’s, the NBA had a strong history in the major markets of LA, NY, Boston and Phila. It lacked the national following of baseball & football. The NBA took off when Bird & Magic hit the scene. It helped when they joined storied clubs on opposite ends of the country, but it also mattered that they came from the middle or Midwest. Eventually, the torch was passed to Jordan, who carried it until Kobe assumed the mantle, to the current holder, LeBron. Save for the period in the early 90’s when BB played like an MMA match, the NBA has thrived because of the selling of talented, highly skilled players, who also know how to market themselves and the game.
The WNBA will need the infusion of a Buecker, Clark, Boston, Haley Jones and Azzi Fudd to revitalize the women’s game. Icons like Bird, Taurasi, Parker, Moore and Tina Charles are at the end or very near the end of their careers. The current women’s game reminds too much of the early 90’s NBA. It needs to highlight the skill, artistry and marketing of new stars. Who fits the bill better than Paige? Her game is an absolute joy to watch. She’s a star and she knows it, but not in an arrogant way. She is media savvy, embraces the role and seemlessly fulfills the WNBA’s social agenda. So what is missing? She’ll need a foil. This is exactly where Clark comes in. She shares many of the same attributes and it will appear they’ll enter the WNBA at the same time. For the WNBA’s sake, this is their opportunity to make their league matter. They have 2outstanding lights to shine. Oh, both just happen to come from the middle of the country.
In the 70’s, the NBA had a strong history in the major markets of LA, NY, Boston and Phila. It lacked the national following of baseball & football. The NBA took off when Bird & Magic hit the scene. It helped when they joined storied clubs on opposite ends of the country, but it also mattered that they came from the middle or Midwest. Eventually, the torch was passed to Jordan, who carried it until Kobe assumed the mantle, to the current holder, LeBron. Save for the period in the early 90’s when BB played like an MMA match, the NBA has thrived because of the selling of talented, highly skilled players, who also know how to market themselves and the game.
The WNBA will need the infusion of a Buecker, Clark, Boston, Haley Jones and Azzi Fudd to revitalize the women’s game. Icons like Bird, Taurasi, Parker, Moore and Tina Charles are at the end or very near the end of their careers. The current women’s game reminds too much of the early 90’s NBA. It needs to highlight the skill, artistry and marketing of new stars. Who fits the bill better than Paige? Her game is an absolute joy to watch. She’s a star and she knows it, but not in an arrogant way. She is media savvy, embraces the role and seemlessly fulfills the WNBA’s social agenda. So what is missing? She’ll need a foil. This is exactly where Clark comes in. She shares many of the same attributes and it will appear they’ll enter the WNBA at the same time. For the WNBA’s sake, this is their opportunity to make their league matter. They have 2outstanding lights to shine. Oh, both just happen to come from the middle of the country.
