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Message: [QUOTE="Dillon77, post: 4750388, member: 6620"] Just where are they disappearing to, [USER=10835]@MooseJaw[/USER] ? I watched two semi-final games on a major sports network that showcased the best of players that had matriculated from many of the schools that you've mentioned and they were putting on a pretty damn good show. And those players -- not the collegians -- will be the ones chosen to represent the United States at major international competitions, such as the Olympics and World Cup. Do some top players in college make a lot of money in NIL? Sure do. However, top player salaries in the WNBA are starting to get higher and will continue to do so once the collective bargaining agreement is redone in 2025. Plus they're getting exposure. Like @vistingcock, I accept and respect your preference for collegiate basketball for many of the reasons you cite. (However, with more liberal transfer rules and NIL money, I bet collegiate fans even have an evolving viewpoint of what is a traditional collegiate experience for player and fan alike) The one point I'll give you is attendance. Both semi-final games yesterday were attended by some 9500 people (or just north/south of that figure). Here are your top five (and more in the link): [URL='https://www.on3.com/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks/'][B]South Carolina Gamecocks[/B][/URL] – 12,942 [URL='https://www.on3.com/teams/iowa-hawkeyes/'][B]Iowa Hawkeyes[/B][/URL] – 11,143 [URL='https://www.on3.com/college/iowa-state-cyclones/'][B]Iowa State Cyclones[/B][/URL] – 10,323 [URL='https://www.on3.com/college/connecticut-huskies/'][B]UConn Huskies[/B][/URL] – 10,255 [URL='https://www.on3.com/college/louisville-cardinals/'][B]Louisville Cardinals[/B][/URL] – 8,779 [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.on3.com/news/south-carolina-iowa-lead-womens-college-basketball-in-attendance-in-2022-23-season/[/URL] As for me, I like both games. There are differences, of course; namely the players at the top level are better, but I have a more emotional tie to one collegiate team in particular. But I'll enjoy both. Incidentally, I think the pro game will get more franchises, more players and more interest shortly. The story is not done being written.... [/QUOTE]

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