Women’s professional basketball might be finally coming into its own. It is beginning to be treated like a professional league, with substantially more publicity and attendance.
The phenomenal collegiate star Caitlin Clark is a significant part of the increased attention to the WNBA. However, note also the impact of college players’ NIL (Name, Image, and Likewise) contracts. This movement on paying college athletics is undoubtedly influencing the increase in such contracts to WNBA players, especially the rookies who come into the league with NILs.
Reaching this point has been a long and arduous journey for the players of the WNBA. They have had to overcome numerous challenges, including the pervasive sexism in the American sports world that often undermines the achievements of female athletes.
Many men—and many women—hold the problematic position that they do not like this or that women’s sport because women cannot do what men can do. Yet, they watch both professional football and college and high school football, even though most young men in college and high school cannot do things the professionals can do.
However, another culprit holding back the WNBA might be the NBA (National Basketball Association). The NBA created the WNBA, and it did so in a manner that minimized the public impact of women’s professional basketball.
Twenty-eight years ago, the American Basketball League (ABL) was launched, building upon the positive notoriety of the 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic team. This team, which won the gold medal in a popular dominating fashion, was a source of immense pride and inspiration. With eight of the 12 stars from that 1996 Olympic team, the eight-team league was formed, spreading across mostly second-tier league cities like Columbus, Ohio; Hartford, Connecticut; and San José, California. It also included teams in Atlanta and Portland.
In the same year, 1996, the NBA announced the formation of another women’s league, the WNBA, apparently to counter the ABL. This eight-team league would start play in the summer of 1997. Several of these teams were affiliates of the NBA teams in their respective cities, automatically starting with some organizational and financial clout.
The WNBA had the other four stars of the Olympic team; however, these were some of the biggest stars–Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Cheryl Swoopes, and the veteran Ruthie Bolton. These teams and stars were publicized as if all the players from the Olympic team had gone to the WNBA. Moreover, in a calculated move, the league’s season was set to play in the summer, when the NBA teams would not be playing, thus not having the share the fan base.
Using its clout, the NBA secured television contracts for the WNBA and prevented the ABL from getting a significant contract. Without a contract, the ABL folded after two seasons, thus clearing the field for the wintertime fans.
If the WNBA played during the regular basketball season, it would likely have more attention and fans. Moreover, here’s a wild thought. Perhaps with this rearrangement, the players would make more money in the U.S.
