WNBA -- 2023 Season

[GamecockFam]

LA seemed to have a productive first game for the Atlanta Dream. I didn't watch the game but she has some of the better stats on the team. 3 offensive boards, 8 points, 1 block and 4 free throw attempts in 15 min. She also had 4 fouls...

 

[Waquoit]

I believe the WNBA should move to the winter and play double headers with the NBA. That’ll get people in the seats

I dunno. I think it be more like those Big East semi-final games that UConn isn't a part of.

 

[cancontent]

An FYI regarding the exhibition game in Toronto on Saturday.

 

[cancontent]

Wish I was able to take today off to enjoy the events they've had lined up for tomorrow's game. I've been impressed with what has been lined up for people to experience.

 

[Dillon77]

May 12 Transaction Listed on WNBA Website

Seattle: Williams, Madi – Waived

 

[cancontent]

FYI for those who don't have league pass if interested in seeing Minnesota vs Chicago.

 

[cancontent]

Views from the game. This is awesome

 

[Kaizen]

Aliyah Boston played 18 mins, 8 pts, 6 fouls as IND 90 - DAL 83. WNBA will not let Boston to go away with fouls like she was in the college basketball....

 

[hoopsnloops32]

A. Boston played 18 mins, 8 pts, 6 fouls as IND 90 - DAL 83. WNBA will not let Boston to go away with fouls like she was in the college basketball....

Don’t forget just 1 rebound. It’s going to be a big adjustment being called for fouls and playing against similarly sized players.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Thank you! I thought Boston got away with SO MUCH during her entire college career, refs turned a blind eye while she was free to do whatever she wanted. Rude awakening being in the W and not being able to get away with all that stuff now.

 

[SECbbfan24]

Nalyssa Smith has really come along nicely in her short time in the WNBA.

 

[darrell]

Nalyssa Smith has really come along nicely in her short time in the WNBA.

This is no offense to Kim Mulkey, but I give Nicki Collen a lot of credit. She’s much more confident outside the paint and Nicki being a former WNBA Coach prepared her well for that transition.

 

[azfan]

I think the issue with Carter is her attitude, not her play

Uncoachable and a less than positive teammate and locker room presence

 

[azfan]

I just noted the NWSL is going to expand to 16 teams by 2026. Now, I've seen some of the fees being asked for (and paid for) a franchise and this is the NWSL (and I coached soccer for years). I'd have to think that with the surge in WBB that the WNBA has to be taking advantage of this interest at some point. Yes, they've got to keep the 144 in good shape (salaries, travel, etc.), but I think this league is only going to grow if the league puts money into it.

And expansion would give more opportunities for rookies who were good enough to get drafted. Imagine if baseball just kept cutting their best Triple AAA prospects? The WNBA is virtually throwing it's young off a cliff. Got to change that.

Where does this money come from? The league is a hole loses money, franchises do not appreciate in value, media rights are tiny in comparison to even soccer.

 

[Bigboote]

Thank you! I thought Boston got away with SO MUCH during her entire college career, refs turned a blind eye while she was free to do whatever she wanted. Rude awakening being in the W and not being able to get away with all that stuff now.

IIRC, she went over 100 consecutive minutes at one point this past season without having a foul called on her. Now 9 in 34 minutes in the W, which tends to be much more physical than the NCAA.

 

[cancontent]

 

[Bigboote]

Yeah, I think Toronto could support a WNBA team. Especially if they had a few Canadians on the team. Carleton was the only Canadian playing in this game.

 

[cancontent]

Yeah, I think Toronto could support a WNBA team. Especially if they had a few Canadians on the team. Carleton was the only Canadian playing in this game.

It would help, but there were a lot of straight up WNBA fans. You could hear fans yelling for Copper, Williams, Jhuasz, throughout the game.

Achonwa was on hand and part of various events leading up to the game since she's currently on maternity leave.

 

[cancontent]

For those who don't think the WNBA gets support. This video is a good example of the demographic who are interested in the game nowadays. A lot of youth in the crowd yesterday in addition to long time fans. I'm so proud of how Torontonians and Canadians responded to this event.

Hopefully the WNBA builds on it. Even if an expansion team isn't on the immediate horizon, hosting exhibition games on an annual basis would be awesome.

 

[Geew1992]

 

[azfan]

WNBA expansion is coming, but when and where?

The WNBA once consisted of 16 teams but has had 12 since 2010. The next expansion seems likely to be two teams, and Toronto and the Bay Area are among the potential sites.

www.espn.com

Why no expansion-

"It's both simple and complex. The simple answer is money. The biggest issue isn't just whether franchises consistently make money, or at least don't lose a lot. It's whether they accrue in value. The answer for years was no,"

 

[azfan]

Awesome.

Two Questions

Is this sustainable

Can the challenges and complexities of competing regularly in Canada to be addressed

 

[azfan]

More pickleball fans than women's basketball fans.

Big changes are coming to Major League Pickleball, as the league expanded from 12 to 24 teams and increased prize money to $5 million for the 2023 season.

Major League Pickleball: New Format and Teams Announced for 2023

Catch up on the latest announcements from Major League Pickleball, including the new format for the 2023 season, new team owners, and which pro pickleball players were picked to each MLP team. Will you be surprised by the 2023 MLP #1 draft pick?

thepickler.com

And

"The celebrity investors are clearly “hot” on pickleball, as team ownership reportedly cost in the low 7-figures"

Like the rest of you on the BY I enjoy and admire women's basketball at all levels. I particularly enjoy the WNBA and I'm a grateful to have the opportunity to repeatedly watch the GOAT.

That said it's important to be realistic about consumer demand for the entertainment that comes from sports. The consumer market for women's basketball is tiny. It is growing but it's tiny.

I think about my attendance at basketball games at my alma mater McClintock High school.

Attendance at women's games is a tiny fraction of men's games. This past season the Lady Chargers, yes they are called the Lady Chargers Were 28 and 3 won the region and advanced to the OCTA finals in the open State tournament. A wonderful team.

The men were average.

The attendance at the outstanding women's team this year was probably on a regular basis between 50 and 100 fans. The men's team routinely generated 500 to 600 fans.

Of significance when this wonderful women's team went on the road the attendance was less. This was a marquee team well coached with the region player of the year, the region leading rebounder, and an entertaining up tempo style of play.

This personal anecdote reflects the broader truth. Those of us who enjoy and admire women's basketball do so with passion, interest and most often grace. Unfortunately there just aren't very many of us. I would also caution about reading too much into the sellout in Canada. While the energy is wonderful and indicated that the WNBA does have some limited skill at marketing this is a one-off. It would certainly be interesting if one of the two proposed franchise expansion teams ends up in Canada but we would need to be realistic as a fan base as to the economic viability and sustainability of such franchise.

 

[Dillon77]

May 13, 2023​

From the WNBA Website

Los Angeles: Bradford, Crystal – Waived
Los Angeles: Gray, Reshanda – Waived
Phoenix: Slocum, Destiny – Waived
Phoenix: Dixon, Liz – Waived

 

[Dillon77]

Where does this money come from? The league is a hole loses money, franchises do not appreciate in value, media rights are tiny in comparison to even soccer.

The key, as I recall from an article on the women's soccer league is to work on the value appreciation and I believe -- it's mothers day so I'm not going to research this heavily today -- there's starting to be an uptick in some franchises.

However, with the input that franchises that New York or Las Vegas are putting into personnel (both players, coaches and facilities), I've got to think we'll start seeing this.