76 Responses to “Why You Need to Pay Attention to the WNBA”

1. July 23rd, 2009 at 10:28 am

   Sho-Nuff says:

   The WNBA exists because Stern would never admit to a failed league. The NBA makes enough money to keep this league, that doesn’t make money, afloat. Take away the NBA money and this league would have folded years ago like the ABL (Reebok sponsored Women’s League).

   They hyped a few of the wrong stars, Lobo(UConn), and don’t even show the highlights on SportsCenter.

   The best marketing they had was the WNBAYS commercials…”when the Liberty meet the Mercury, there’s always a chance for o-ver-time”.

   Sure Lauren Jackson/Sue Bird combo is nice but the league lacks bonafide stars on each team to really pull a male audience. I don’t speak for the male audience, but who does the average man identify with in the WNBA? If the league could stand on it’s own why have some women players wear makeup? To attract a few men to watch. Stats mean nothing to the average man because not many can put a face to the player. The WNBA will never admit to playing the “horny man” card, but they try, and that’s probably the only male fans they will get. Men realized long ago that a womens basketball team like USC in Love and Basketball does not have that many fine chicks on it and don’t watch.

   I know Pondexter because she went to Rutgers, around the corner from my house. But does the average man go to a Liberty game because Pondexter is in town? Not really. Who watches a WNBA game to see a few exciting plays per game?

   I rest my argument sir.

2. July 23rd, 2009 at 10:32 am

   sans says:

   DIME doesn’t even cover the WNBA when there is no other basketball to report on. C’mon! I agree with you, and check out the W when bored at work, but y’all do not say anything about this league. What a fake statement. Like Bush saying he didn’t allow torture.

3. July 23rd, 2009 at 10:45 am

   YOUNGFED says:

   Couldn’t have said it better Sans.

   Also i’ll start watching this league when these chicks learn to dunk/do a simple crossover. Or heres a thought mabye even try a fancy lay-up now and then.

   @DIME
   Get better writers this guy is wack. “We don’t believe you, you nned more people!!!” LMAO

4. July 23rd, 2009 at 10:50 am

   YOUNGFED says:

   Here’s a good idea that I think is interesting. You guys should do a weekly post of the flyest chicks in the WNBA and call it “Dimepiece’s the WNBA Edition” That id check out.

5. July 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 am

   Kobeef says:

   @Dime

   I really like the part of this story where you say you “believe with all of (your) heart that the WNBA will actually continue to grow”

   Good work getting in touch with your feminine side and showing your heart-felt emotions. Being more womanly will help you to like the WNBA.

6. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:01 am

   Justin says:

   Could Pondexter or Turasi or Fowles or Jackson compete in the NBA? How would they fare.

   It was a correct statement to say that “it doesn’t (or shouldn’t) matter if it’s a man or a woman playing the game,” but I think “talent level” matters quite a bit.

   If a woman could dish the ball with the same accuracy and command as, say, Chris Paul or Steve Nash, I don’t doubt “true” basketball fans would embrace her. And if the WNBA produced dozens of such players … well, there wouldn’t be a need for a WNBA would there? They’d all just go to the men’s pro league.

   Pondexter was used as an example of the WNBA’s greatness, but she’s being compared to other WNBA players. This doesn’t inflate Cappie, it deflates the rest of the league.

   This blog (http://www.sportscape.tv/index.php/mnu-blog/122-what-place-do-womens-sports-have-in-our-culture)goes into more detail as to why more fans haven’t “found” the WNBA.

   Also enough with the “fundamentals of basketball” rhetoric. You know who both understand and utilize the fundamentals of basketball? The Lakers. The Spurs. The Magic. The Celtics. The Nuggs.

   We call those teams “the good ones.”

7. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:07 am

   Chicagorilla says:

   I’m a true basketball fanatic who watches any level of basketball. I’m a huge WNBA fan, and have been watching since they began with the likes of Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson and Cynthia Cooper (MVP baby). Lisa Leslie, Tisha Pinechero (sp?), Dawn Staley, the list goes on. Now with the likes of Parker, Fowles, Pondexter, Turasi, Young and Hammon, the game has reached a new height talent level wise. Parker is one of the best players on the planet (MVP,ROTY,Best basketball Debut game in the history of the NBA/WNBA, NCAA national champ[repeat year], NCAA player of the year, Olympic Gold medal all in one spectacular year) and if you can’t appreciate that then you shouldn’t call yourself a basketball fan. You more so like AND-1 style basketball.

8. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:13 am

   Chicagorilla says:

   @youngfed

   Why is it that every post of yours starts with a shot at whoever the writer of the article is? Then you try to use some sort of retarded version of reverse psychology to see if DIME will hire you to write. Real talk, you are a str8 hater and that shyt is getting extremely annoying. I’m not trying to flame, but I’m calling a spade a spade.

9. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:16 am

   Ashlov says:

   If they start playing topless, I might watch.

10. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Celts Fan says:

    I have no problem with women’s ball and catch a few UConn, Tenn, or UNC games a year.

    Having said that, here are 3 things that really hurt their credibility:

    1. Your league leader in dimes is averaging LESS THAN 6/GAME. Really?!?
    2. Don’t try to sell me on a 6′5″ girl BARELY finishing a dunk being some epic event. The announcers act like it’s some miracle that they can dunk. It’s nice and all, but making that a top play on Sportscenter just turns off males even more.
    3. You routinely see things scroll across the bottom line of ESPN2 like I saw last night (guessing on the teams tho, I forget)
    LA 14, PHX 16, 2nd quarter. Scoring sells, these are lower scoring games.

    Women play a solid brand of ball, but the reason I LOVE basketball is watching the best all-around pro athletes in the world fly around the court and do things that don’t seem human. Women are inferior athletes to men (don’t get mad ladies, not being sexist, just real – look at EVERY track & field record. The men’s record is always ahead of the women’s.). It’s not as entertaining a brand of ball. Ill watch occasionally when I have to get my ball fix, but, to men used to watching the best athletes in the world play, the WNBA doesn’t measure up (and say what you will about the lack of team play by some, all of the good teams don’t have this problem)

11. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am

    Chicagorilla says:

    @DIME,

    Sans does have a good point in that the only WNBA related material I’ve read on hear I believe is when Candace Parker gave birth and Taursi got a DUI. Have you guys even given Parker/Taurasi/Pondexter/Augustus/L.Jackson/Becky Hammon/Sure Bird/Lisa Leslie a cover? Not just the small 1 page article. I know the “other” major b-ball mag gave Chamiqua Holdsclaw a cover, but that’s only because she’s from NY. None of the above ladies are from NY.

12. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Chicagorilla says:

    Oh and with Mya Moore dominating the NCAAs and Britney Griner coming in this season, the NCAA women league is about to get a major boost in popularity.

    BTW- Mya Moore is 6ft tall and can dunk (she is also fine as hell), B.Griner is 6′8 and BANGS ON people.

13. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 am

    karizmatic says:

    I actually tried to watch the WNBA but I just couldn’t get into it. I think it’s something about me liking to see the best athletes play the game. I watch college ball but I am not an avid fan, so I guess I can’t be considered a “true fan” of basketball. I’ve often wondered why more people don’t watch the woman’s game and I have come to the conclusion it is simply not that marketeable. Maybe I’m wrong but I use women’s tennis for comparision. Other than the chance to see women running around in short skirts why is it more marketeable than the WNBA? Because there is actually a vast difference between the women’s game and the men’s game ie if you appreciate longer rallies and more of a cerebral game as opposed to the all out power game more of the men play you can appreciate women’s tennis as really a different brand of tennis. Not a competing one.

    With the WNBA there is just too much basketball out there. For people who like the athleticism and all that you have the NBA and every now and then guys play fundamental basketball too. Just ask the Pistons in 2004 or the San Antonio Spurs for the last decade. If you like the fundamental game and the NBA turns you off you have college ball, which still has better athletes than the women’s game. The other problem is how exactly do you market fundamental basketball and team play in a way that people who don’t necessarily even like basketball will watch it? The WNBA hasn’t figured that out. So as a result the WNBA has remained a niche league for staight up basketball fanatics who get as much joy watching a good pickup game as they do watching the NBA.

14. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:30 am

    Zach says:

    The only way (imo) that the WNBA will succeed is if they experiment with lowering the rims to 9′ or 9.5′ this would create dunking and actual above the rim play. It’s not pure basketball but it would be a LOT more viewer friendly

15. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am

    YOUNGFED says:

    @Post#8
    If I dont like the artile I think its not to far fetched to comment on it. I try not to be a d!ck ryder let you appearantly are. PS dont know you and you dont know me so if you dont like what I post here’s a thought…..”DON’T READ IT!!!” goofball.

    BTW I good with my job and really aint pressed to write for my comments are strictly cooooooomedy,,,Lame.

16. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am

    sh!tfaced says:

    fyi. and the wbna leads in sports diversity too, btw…

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_wnba_diversity

17. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am

    Angry Tennis Ball says:

    WNBA? Hmmm let’s see now:

    slow play – check
    everybody is screaming or shrieking half the time – check
    zero vertical – check
    zero style – check
    ugly shot style – check
    the key always cluttered like a traffic jam – check
    boring – check

    Notttttttt interested. And not going to apologize for it.

18. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:45 am

    Chicagorilla says:

    @Youngfed

    The only comedic value in your post is your lack of intellect and ability to put together a proper sentence.

19. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 am

    parker says:

    I second the thought of making the women’s rim lower. I also think they should make the court smaller. Without those adjustments watching the WNBA is sort of like watching high school freshmen.

20. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 am

    YOUNGFED says:

    ^^^^Lol still read my post. You’re following like my Twitter b*tch. lmao

21. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Peezy says:

    Damn – this dudes got balls. Dont agree wit some of the points but much respect for posting it on Dime.

22. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Justin Solomon says:

    Props to Ben york for writing this. I feel the same way. A lot of people write the WNBA off because the athletes are inferior, without recognizing that most women in the WNBA would DESTROY your average Dime reader or any other non-professional male player. I have watched plenty of games on TV and as an avid basketball fan, appreciate the ladies for what they bring to the table. I will be attending my first game in person next month when the Minnesota Lynx visit the Connecticut Sun. I am hyped about attending the game and will drop a line in Smack or another article after I do so. Thanks again to Ben York for stepping up and writing about what the “real” fans already know. The WNBA is a quality product with world class athletes and is here to stay. Thanks Ben.

23. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 am

    The Real Deal says:

    this article is just like transformers 2, long and boring

24. July 23rd, 2009 at 11:54 am

    Kobeef says:

    @Zach and Parker

    I think one of the dime crew wrote about lowering the rims and making the court smaller – and I also 100% agree that the WNBA should do both.

    It’s not a knock to the players or thier skill – it just reflects the fact that women basketball players are on average quite a bit shorter/smaller than men.

25. July 23rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Chicagorilla says:

    Lower the RIM?

    Well in that case should the NBA widen the rim for the lack of jumpshot by star players (what up Lebron). No that doesn’t make sense. The WNBA is what it is. If you don’t like to see that, then you’re not a fan and that’s fine.

26. July 23rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    jayE says:

    I personally like the WNBA and women’s college basketball, but I can see why others don’t. I spent last summer in New York trying to convince my older brother that a lot of these players are the real deal. And so we took in a game at MSG, watched Liberty faced Seattle Storm. We definitely gained an appreciation for how skilled the players were. I remember watching Erin Thorn drill three after three during warm ups. But it was just very different. Definitely must be an acquired taste. The atmosphere obviously wasn’t like a Knick game to say the least. And the only player that really stood out, was Sue Bird. (My brother is still under the impression that Lauren Jackson is terrible because she had an off game.) But Sue was unbelievable. I’m pretty sure her stats were unimpressive but she was just really fun to watch. So that’s when my brother concluded that the problem with the WNBA, is that it simply isn’t very good right now. That sounds harsh, but he doesnt mean that he is better than the players or anything. More so, there are many talented all around players, but not so many talented rosters. I believe if fans were able to watch Sue Bird and LJ, or even like the stacked Euroleague rosters every night, the women’s game would be a lot more compelling. But I can’t knock a dude who says I cant watch the Monarchs play. He’s probably the same dude who can’t really watch the Memphis Grizzles play night in and out. In any event I just think that the league is still in its early stages and its taking time to develop. You look at the stars who’ve entered the league since 04, the Augustus’s, Dupree, Pondexter, Taurasi, and of course Candace Parker, they all are so fluid, and just play the game so differently than how it was played before. People say they play like men, but I just think their ballers, who are ready to take the game to the next level. So my plee for haters, is to stop praying on the leagues downfall because essentially, your going to rob yourself of watching the next generation of players who are even better than a Candace Parker and Diana Taurasi. Without the league, young female ballers have nothing to strive for. wholeheartedly that it will become more exciting and more watchable. It’s just in its early stages.

27. July 23rd, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    UpNorth says:

    I usually give the WNBA a legitimate, open-minded chance each summer, but it always results with me turning the television off within 10 minutes.

    Yes, basketball should be embraced if being played correctly, but please don’t tell me I should be watching the WNBA. The players have the knowledge & fundamentals, but they obviously don’t have the athleticism as professional men players.

    The WNBA is just too slow to watch and be entertained, and when I say slow, I don’t just mean end-to-end, I mean every aspect of the game. Ball swings in the half court, defensive rotations, drives to the hoop, dribbles… it is just boring; not because they’re playing the game the wrong way, but because you’re waiting for things to happen that already should have.

    I’m not trying to “put down” women’s basketball, but the truth of the matter is that there’s no market for a professional league in North America. From a business standpoint, consumers are always going to compare a product to the best competitor that is out there. And although the NBA & WNBA are “partners”, the general basketball fan looks at them as competitors, and when that is done, the WNBA is a far inferior product.

28. July 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    KT says:

    @Ben York

    The argument the fundamental quality of the WNBA is so good, I be gto differ. I try every once in awhile to watch WNBA games and I see bad passes, missed layups, and poor shot selection just as I would any other game of basketball, so it is not as if the WNBA is head and shoulders above other leagues in regard to that.

    Looking at an empty arena full of uninspired fans watch a game, in addition to the low chance of seeing an amazingly athletic play, and combine that with largely unattractive sweaty women (sans Candace Parker) doesn’t really inspire me to watch.

    The women’s game should try and take a page out of the college book instead of mocking the NBA. I’m not vain enough to say I know the answer, but I do know the women’s college game is far more interesting.

29. July 23rd, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    weezy f says:

    damn everyone posting long asss comments! this is a long and pointless article

30. July 23rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    Ben York says:

    Thank you all for taking the time to read the article.

    I know that no matter what, some people won’t find the merit in watching the WNBA. Though, I’m not sure watching just 10 minutes of it will give anyone a legitimate opinion of the entire league; there are more fantastic players out there than you might think, and I’d be happy to recommend a few.

    Winner for best insult goes to @The Real Deal: “this article is just like transformers 2, long and boring.”

31. July 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Dukesman2000 says:

    Ben is a weird name for a chick.

32. July 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    c-rock79 says:

    yo…some of these girls got some serious game. I remember back in the day at UConn I would be at the gym playin and Taurasi would come thru and be straight killin dudes while talkin smack the whole game. I never got the chance to play against her but I’ll never forget seeing dudes faces after gettin shook by her n than tellin them she gonna step back for a three in they eye n hittin it…

33. July 23rd, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    moo says:

    i love the methodical dismantling and exquisite execution of the Spurs. i love the stiffling defense and exploitation of every minutia of the championship Pistons.
    i’ve tried to watch the WNBA in its first two years, when they had national coverage on NBA/ABC(?). my main issue with their game was the lack of execution — another commenter pointed this out — poor passes, blown layups, easy open baskets, lack of offensive movement. i’m certainly open to watching good basketball, but i don’t even know if games are carried nationally anymore (as a viewer from Toronto). beautiful basketball is beautiful basketball. i’ll certainly try to watch a game if it’s on tv this summer, and thank you for trying to promote basketball played the right way.

34. July 23rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    Rosavel@gmail.com says:

    Id rather watch boys middle school than professional womens, or as my father calls it, “ladyball”

    At least with middle schools boys i can be like, “dag, he gon be nice one day, that kid could play d1!

    shoot, i was dunkin in 8th grade, i think i coulda dogged a few girls off the sparks…

    not to say no girls can ball, i seen plenty who could hold their own in a pick up game with men….

    but they defense is very suspect, release is slow, handle not nba ready and cant finish at the hoop or defend it

    middle school boys bball>>>>> wnba

35. July 23rd, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    control says:

    My major problem with the WNBA is also the main reason why I’d like it to stick around for a few generations: it’s developing, and the whole thing is still in an infant state of evolution.

    If anyone watches EARLY basketball, those guys sucked. The NBA has already had it’s growing pains, has already had different trends run through the system, and has plenty of generations of players improving on the previous. The WNBA hasn’t had that yet.

    My minor problems with the WNBA is the lack of athleticism. Ben, you say that “Oh, and by the way, don’t tell me how you could beat a WNBA player. You can’t.”, well, I’m 6′8, 250lbs. I’d tear that league up, I doubt there are any women in the league that even come close to my strength, and I’d only be average for a pro men’s league.

    The WNBA is sorta like watching midget wrestling. They might be skilled, and it’s entertaining for a while, but when it comes down to it, physically they just fall ’short’.

36. July 23rd, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    control says:

    BTW YOUNGFED

    Chicagorilla is 100% correct. STFU, you wrote one fucking article and it sucked. Quit talking like you are the shit because of it, idiot.

37. July 23rd, 2009 at 2:06 pm

    Chicagorilla says:

    I guess this is why a group like “Da Roots” doesn’t get the credit/recognition they deserve, while Soulja Boy, Gucci Man, and Lil Wayne get all the attention. No apprectiation for the true artist.

38. July 23rd, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    JT-MN says:

    A) If there are 11 players on a squad, and 14 teams in the league, that would lead me to reasonably assume that there are 154 players in the WNBA at any one time. For the comment that said these players would ‘Destroy’ the average reader, I would hope that one of the 154 best female basketball players in the world would defeat your average joe. Now compare those 154 to the developmental league in Spain, Greece, or Italy, and lets see how they stack up. There you would find a good definition of destruction, I think, as players who aren’t as good as NCAA D-1A players systematically broke down the female ’stars.’

    B) How do you call yourself a true ‘fan’ of the game just because you can apparently appreciate a less athletic version of it? Putting yourself up on a pedestal for this reason makes you seem egotistic and ridiculous. I’m a fan of basketball, I just can’t stand the women’s version of it. Just like I’m a fan of hockey and lacrosse, and absolutely cannot stand the women’s version of it. Don’t spew your ‘high and mighty’ crap at others, Chicagorilla, just to make yourself feel better about liking something that most others don’t.

39. July 23rd, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    williehobbes says:

    ESPN has given birth to a bunch of kids who only care about dunks and breaking ankles….which probably explains why people are still waiting for gerald green to blow up

40. July 23rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Mack Brownee says:

    Man i couldn’t even read this long@$$ article but who really cares about a bunch of dykes running around on a basketball court? I know it sounds ignorant for me to say that but that’s what’s going on. I don’t care how “skilled” they are, chris dudley would dominate them

41. July 23rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm

    Chicagorilla says:

    “I know it sounds ignorant for me to say that “-Mack Brownee

    yes, yes it certainly does.

42. July 23rd, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    vanyogan says:

    Some men just can’t recognize that women are different than men and so are the sports they play. It’s like the American who travels abroad comparing everything they see to America vs the person who tries to see things as unique and different, not better or worse. One traveler enjoys the experience and the other should have stayed home.

    When I hear the arguments against women sport like speed, athleticism, too slow, weak stats, I think of women’s softball. If you take the same arguments made here against the WNBA and apply them to softball vs. baseball the tables turn completely. Softball is the better game.

    Softball is a faster game. The ball arrives quicker than a baseball. The batting averages are higher. The pitching is better. The base to base speeds are quicker. There are more dimensions to softball. The quickest players can steal second almost at will. The same runners can score from first base off a double or triple if the ball gets by the fielder or the fielder misplays it. Fielders have less time to make plays. It is a faster game.

    Softball is growing but most baseball fans won’t watch softball either, even though it is the more interesting game.

    The fact is that women are different than men and so are the sports they play. If you find women interesting you will have a much better chance of finding their sports interesting. If you don’t, you won’t…

    I find it interesting that some folks above find the college game more interesting when the quality and level of play does not compare to the WNBA. Yes, some teams look good because the competition is lop sided.

    I started out watching WBB NCAA ball. I found a player I liked to watch, and followed her to the W. Then I found other players each year. I know the players, the game, and it isn’t that hard to follow. It takes less time than most sports I know. This year most WNBA games are archived online for free.

    I personally find that women athletes are more interesting to read about than their male counterparts.they tend to be more engaging and often reveal more about themselves and their lives than men do. Sometimes I enjoy reading about an event or player as much or more than the game itself.

    I stand by my point. If you find women interesting, check out the WNBA, invest some time in it. If you don’t find women particularly interesting. Don’t bother.

43. July 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    shake&bake says:

    There’s a professional women’s basketball league?? I once heard a coach say that watching the WNBA is good for 6th grade boys because they aren’t strong and the game is played at net level.

44. July 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    YOUNGFED says:

    @Control Post 36
    Sounds like someones bitter cause they never got asked to write an article by Dime. That comment was so left feild when did I say anything about the article I wrote?

45. July 23rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    Chicagorilla says:

    for those that are calling the WNBA boring, I’m interested in knowing just how exciting it is to watch 1283 freethrow attempts in a NBA game? I watch any level of basketball and the NBA is by far the most athletic, but also the most boring to watch because of the refs. Being a bulls fan, I watched the Celtics series this year in complete disgust. Not because we lost, but because the Refs decided to hand the Celtics 3 games out of the 4 they won (the blow out was the only true win). That shit was horrid to watch as a basketball fan. Eddie house and Glen Davis getting calls like they were C.Paul and KG. Watching K.Perkins play a whole game plus overtime without committing 1 foul while managing to get 7blks. Not only that series, the Denver/LA series was handed to LA. Outside of Kobe, Odom, and Melo, there was barely any skill on the court. The NBA can get very boring at times, the only interest is when there are tight games, and the dunks.

46. July 23rd, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Chicagorilla says:

    Youngfed got to write an article. Holy $h!t stain batman. That explains the haterology.

47. July 23rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    YOUNGFED says:

    Since your new Chicagorilla here yopu go. Could all the hate be because we stole Ben Gordon from yall and dumped Big Ben in Chicago…..Huh???

    http://dimemag.com/2008/11/youngfeds-nba-roy-rankings/

48. July 23rd, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    control says:

    YOUNGFED’s article aka “Listing all the NBA rookies and giving them the same ‘FED Player Rating’”. Good job fool.

    The only thing I gotta respect about you, is your are consistent, consistently idiotic.

49. July 23rd, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    YOUNGFED says:

    ^^^^^^^^^Clown, your making yourself look bad bruh. Real bad (SMDH).

50. July 23rd, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Brian Jackson says:

    Why not lower the WNBA rim to 8 feet or 7.5 and then chicks can start banging and baby it will bring excitment to the league.

    No body cares about WNBA because it boring. The woman routinely miss open shots and lay ups and the scoring is pathetic.

    Please just admit you were wrong Stern and let these women go overseas and play ball in a place people actuall care about them.

51. July 23rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    Chicagorilla sucks says:

    best comment- “ben is a weird name for a girl.”

    watch these videos, they’re absolutely great.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FGI7R0u3TQ

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dgoanvLUMc&feature=related

    for the second one, how funny is it that the number one play is “FROM HER KNEES!”

    hahaha WNBA…what a joke

52. July 23rd, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    Austin Burton says:

    You can call me a WNBA supporter, because beyond just being able to appreciate the game and its players, I actually want the league to succeed. (Especially since the Seattle Storm are my only local outlet for pro basketball now.)

    I’ll just say this much: I put the WNBA in the same boat as Arena League Football, hockey, high school basketball/football, minor league baseball, and NASCAR. It’s 100 percent better to watch it in person than on TV. I’ve been to a few WNBA games live, and I’ve watched more than a few on TV. The live experience is light-years better; even I have to admit watching on TV can get boring.

    If you don’t like the game, that’s fine. I don’t like watching hockey. But what I’ve never understood is that instead of just ignoring it (like I would ignore hockey), critics make an effort to talk shit about the WNBA. Seems like some deeper issue to me than just not liking the sport.

53. July 23rd, 2009 at 6:16 pm

    Factoid says:

    Vanyogan, regarding your softball comments, a fast pitch softball diamond is 60ft on a side, and a baseball diamond is 90ft on a side. I think you invalidate some of the strengths of your argument by glossing over the fact that the radically different fields of play and equipment (aluminum bats, softballs) intrinsically change the game.

54. July 23rd, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    CaptFamous says:

    vanyogan @42 – Softball and baseball are different games with different rules. Basketball is basketball. You can’t really make that comparison to this situation.

    People have been writing this article all over the internet for years. It’s not about saying that they can’t play. I understand their skill. But it’s like experimental jazz. Just because I know that they’re skilled doesn’t mean I like it. I’ve watched it, I’ve really tried, and it just doesn’t work for me.

    First, I have to say the same thing that I say to people who try to argue that college men’s BB is better than the NBA, and that is: The whole story about the NBA lacking fundementals is a massive fabrication. NBA players are better shooters, better dribbles and better passers. They are better individiual defenders. It may not look like it at times, but that’s because they have to play against each other.

    Similarly, the line about the WNBA being so amazingly fundementally sound is highly exaggerated. I’ve watched parts of WNBA games where players make mistakes that would have gotten NBA players laughed out of othe league.

    That last part is related to a factor that other people have hinted at: There may be great women’s players, but there aren’t enough very good women’s players. There isn’t a large enough talent pool, because there aren’t enough girls playing competetive ball. Recently it was a big deal that all 4 #1 seeds made the final 4 in mens CBB. However, from 2000-2008, 6 times the women’s final four consisted of only 1 and 2 seeds, including 4 times when 3 1 seeds made it. There just aren’t enough players for more than a few top tier teams.

    I realize that it feels like gender discrimination for people to not watch the WNBA. But it’s also free market capitalism. You can’t sell a product if people just don’t want to buy it.

55. July 23rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    Ben York says:

    Austin –
    All excellent points. I think that’s where I tend to become defensive of the WNBA as well.

    I liken some of the dislike for the WNBA to US Soccer. It gets a bad rep for not being as competitive as the European game, but these guys are ridiculously good and I have nothing bad to say about them. In fact, I have a lot of respect for every one of our guys.

    You also hit the nail on the head with having it be a deeper issue than just not liking it…

    Good stuff.

56. July 23rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    YOUNGFED says:

    Sorry guys but it gets a bad rep because its boring. Yall haven’t been following the comments I see. lol

    No Deeper issues no conspiracy’s just plain ole no action boring. However lowering the rim mite help the sport.

    They need to find a chick with a lil mixtape game. I believe her name was Penny Toler for LA back in the name see came pretty close by having a nice crossover and nothing else though.

57. July 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Ace says:

    I agree with Ben York and Austin. The WNBA is boring to some people, just like the NBA, MLB, etc is also boring to some people. Different strokes for different folks.

    I watch the WNBA and some games are whatever and others are amazing, same with the NBA. I just want more women to dunk b/c there are women in the WNBA now that can but don’t for some crazy reason………..about not wanting to be flashy or wants to be known as more than just a dunker. I say do it and take one for the team. I wish that Diana Taurasi could dunk b/c as much trash as she talks………if she could I bet she would do it often and then some.

58. July 23rd, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    Kevin says:

    Believe it or not, my love for the WNBA started by accident. I thought a Detroit Shock game was a Pistons game. Later on the 2003 season, I started to follow my local Detroit Shock. I was surprised about their turnaround. The Shock had the worst record in the league in 2002. In ‘03, Detroit had the best record and won the WNBA title in front of 22,076. In my opinion, one of (if not) the best turnaround in professional sports history.

    I have seen NBA games score lower than 75 points a game, and they play 8 minutes more! I have seen the WNBA score over 100 points in 40 minutes sometimes. I was there for Candace Parker’s first WNBA dunk and very excited. I believe I would be ecstatic when a WNBA player dunks because unlike the NBA it’s unusual for a player to do so.

    There are people, men and women, children and adults who attend WNBA games and enjoy it. I’m proud to be one of many. I don’t understand if NBA players and figures like Jack Black and Dwight Howard can enjoy WNBA games, why can’t other men?

    Almost, if not all, WNBA players continue their game overseas and still earn nowhere near the NBA players. I’m sure there’s many NBA players who earn millions of dollars and don’t live up to it. Since the WNBA, as of this season, has cut the roster to 11 players all active, there’s more competition for a roster spot.

59. July 23rd, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    Kevin says:

    @my comment Correction: I have seen an NBA team score lower than 75 points a game

60. July 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Chris says:

    I truly believe the “high and mighty” attitude of WNBA lovers is what creates the “haters” (of which, I’m not one).

    I think it’s the same concept of why so many American hate soccer (of which, I am one) and, to a lesser degree, auto racing.

    In my opinion, the constant need for WNBA and soccer fans to “bash” other sports and “put down” their fans and players causes a backlash, and it shows an inferiority complex.

    If WNBA and soccer fans just keep to themselves, the mainstream would happily ignore them (like lacrosse, softball, bowling, women’s college basketball, etc.).

    But WNBA people just got to stick their noses out and talk trash, most of which are blatantly false. I’m a former WNBA and NBA writer and I’ve heard every example in the book:

    “If you don’t like women’s basketball, you’re a misogynist or not a true basketball fan.” (Really? What if I just don’t find the women’s game entertaining?)

    “Any of those WNBA players would destroy you.” (First of all, absolutely not true, but irrelevant here. So, because they’re better than me, I should watch? So I should spend my time and money to watch the Israeli league, every Nike college camp pickup session and every mid-major men’s college game, too?)

    “WNBA is so fundamentally sound, NBA is all one-on-one and dunking.” “WNBA players play with so much passion, NBA players don’t.” “WNBA plays defense, NBA doesn’t.” (So blatantly not true, it’s not even funny.)

    “WNBA players are all role models, NBA, NFL and MLB players are all thugs.” (There are so many great, great role models in all four of these entities, I just don’t know why WNBA fans need to falsely associate the men’s leagues with thuggery.)

    On a similar note, I don’t understand why soccer people need to constantly bash baseball, basketball and football, and say stuff like “you just don’t understand soccer” or “football players are wimps because they wear pads” or “baseball players are all fat slobs” or any other false stereotype they like to say.

61. July 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    liltoe says:

    almost all of the things you haters said against the wnba are false, they dont score? the phoenix mercury avg around 100 pts a game, they miss open shots? i didnt know everyone in the nba shot a 100% have any of you haters seen taurasi play?

62. July 23rd, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Arne says:

    It’s not watched because their game is fundamentally unsound, bad passing and shooting, as a seventeen year old Baller in Europe, the level of Play of these Professional female players is disappointing, if I’d play that slow, I’d get kicked off the team. For that reason I believe your basic argument, that a true fan can appreciate the tactical game, is wrong, because the execution in a WNBA game is atrocious.

    Sincerely,
    Arne

63. July 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    andrew j says:

    wnba is good for the kids who wants to learn how to play the game, wnba players have a clear grasp of fundamentals of the game

64. July 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    caune says:

    OK, for all you guys who say you’d watch if they were topless or wore bikinis, ah, no you wouldn’t.
    Womens beach volleyball, played in bikinis, went bankrupt twice because people weren’t watching so please, get a better freakin’ excuse.

    As a basketball junkie I love the league. I have a local team, The Mercury, that features run and gun and score score score. So what if they can’t dunk, a good euro step through move can be just as entertaining because it leaves you shaking your head saying “how’d she do that”.

    If you have a local team you really should plunk down a ten spot and go have some fun…you’ll at least get your frustrations out yelling at the refs because like the NBA they are sometimes total idiots, LOL

65. July 24th, 2009 at 3:36 am

    KneeJerkNBA says:

    I’ve tried, oh, I’ve tried. Too many missed layups. MAKE A FRICKING LAYUP!!!!!!!

66. July 24th, 2009 at 10:27 am

    Nesa24 says:

    As basketball fans, you can’t honestly say that if you were to go to a WNBA game, for instance a game like the Storm vs. Sparks, that happened on July 22.A triple overtime game, you wouldn’t be into it, or excited about the level of play. Fundamentally unsound is far from the truth, the WNBA is team basketball. Like any sports fan, we want our leauge to succeed, and to hear others, write it off before they experience a game is absurd. Im not the WNBA fan to bash others who speak bad about our league, but in all realness im one to encourage just a try. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, or in this case, dont judge a leauge by what you percieve.

67. July 24th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    CaptFamous says:

    Yes, yes, the WNBA is team oriented. It’s how basketball is meant to be played. But I don’t play in the WNBA. I can only watch it.

    I’m not arguing that the players in the WNBA aren’t good. But don’t sit here and try to tell me that they’re “as good”, or that the WNBA play is “better”, because you can’t prove it, and what I see with my own eyes makes me disinclined to take your word for it.

68. July 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    PhxMercury says:

    One thing to also remember, the stats that these players are putting up do not compare to mens stats as the game is only 40 minutes compared to NBA 48. Cappie had 15 assists last week! in 40 minute game. Can you imagine if she had the extra 8 minutes?

    Beyond all of this, how many of you have daughters. Are you telling me that you teach them that they can not be anything they want to be? because the WNBA does not fly above the rim like the NBA? That thought just amazes me.

    Take your family to a NBA game and a WNBA game. See the excitment that is in the arena for both. The excitment on your kids faces, boys and girls alike! Then look at what you spent for lower arena tickets and the entertainment value you got for your dollar. I can guarantee that the amount spent at the WNBA was worth every dollar.

69. July 24th, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    CaptFamous says:

    @PhxMercury

    Yes, she would have had 18 assists, via extrapolation. Quite impressive.

    Also, I don’t have any daughters, or children for that matter. BUT, you are presenting a false correlation. Not watching the WNBA is not the same as telling little girls that they can’t aspire to play in it. If a child wants to be a stage actor, their parents go to the child’s performances, and they take the kids to shows. But are they bad parents if they still think that movies are better than Broadway? No.

    Finally, you can take your family to a WNBA game, and not like it. Parents take their kids places all the time that they don’t like. This has nothing to do with being a fan of the league.

    This article, and many of the replies, put me in a tough place. I don’t want to actively be denegrating the WNBA. But when you present poorly constructed arguments, particularly ones that rely upon perpetuating false negatives about the NBA, which is a league that I strongly support, I feel compelled to refute you. And the only way to refute you is to talk about why I don’t watch the WNBA.

70. July 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Kudabeen says:

    Great article Ben!

    I’ve been beating this drum for a long time…WNBA is a good watch, but I think there is way too much movement in growth for casual BBall fans to follow consistently…

    I’ve fell off of watching in the last few years…To watch a team like the Rockets totally fall off sucked. I do appreciate their attempts to beautify the product with out selling out and going for sex appeal…BUT!

    I do think women are women and the more they can promote the dichotomy that a female athlete possesses as opposed to promoting “their” game as the same game as the NBA it would be better serving…

    To watch these women be women, but also be strong, aggressive, and as passionate as anyone anywhere is great. Also to watch a player go come back from giving birth and come back to form or better is amazing…

    It is a great game, but I think they still need to tinker a bit to open it up some. It should be a much faster pace game and the scores should soar. I can’t watch 3 quarters of a 65-70 game, then I forget about it by the time the 4th quarter rolls around…

    It is a great league full of great players…

    Just as a man I do find myself checking every draft and rosters to just check the women out…I love female athletes…I think the most amazing women are the ones who can sweat and compete and not look foolish or out of place…I’ll keep beating the drum, but I do think they need to make some moves to speed the game up so the great ball handling, passing, and shooting is highlighted more.

71. July 24th, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    ATL Ballin says:

    For all of those who are waiting to see the women’s game go above the rim… it already has! You’re just too dumb to notice!!! Brittney Griner has been dunking on people for the last 3 year in HIGH SCHOOL! This fall she is going to Baylor where I’m sure her coach will work a few plays for the dunk…. She doesn’t have a pussyfoot dunk like Lisa Leslie… Brittney can throw down! Tomahawk… windmill… drop step… reverse… two handed… One handed… off the bank! You name it this girl can throw it down with style! Watch for yourself!

    http://www.insidewomensbasketball.com/spring2009/

72. July 25th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    doc says:

    I will watch occasionally but I will bust every chick ass in that league.

73. July 26th, 2009 at 7:39 am

    Ace-One says:

    I actually like the WNBA now and then, but one thing that slightly bothers me is that they continue to use a smaller size ball. There are plenty of male college players (and pro for that matter) who are no bigger than WNBA players, so why do they use the smaller ball?

    I’ve shot around with a WNBA ball, and I was definitely getting more shots bouncing in. The once inch makes a surprising difference.

    I don’t see any good reason to use a different size ball in the WNBA, and I think it artificially inflates shooting percentages.

74. August 8th, 2009 at 9:42 am

    Braden says:

    Ben,
    You continue to pound the idea that I couldn’t beat a WNBA player. That is so naive on all levels. You have no idea of the physical differences and athletic abilities of males and females. Post 60 above hit the nail on the head and I could copy and paste his post to reflect how I feel. Sure a WNBAer could school the toads that show up at open gym but I’m talking about the real ballers that played organized ball and still have a passion for playing basketball. It is an insult to these players to say we could not hang with a WNBA player. Forget dunks, it’s only worth 2 points,however it is the highest percentage shot. When basketball is played with a high level of competance(minimal turnovers,ability to utilize both hands without discrimination,great ball handling,blocking out,crisp passing and cutting,solid defense,jumpshots with good form,not launching a ball from your hip or a 2 hand push shot)it is arguably the most enjoyable sport to watch. You apparently see this when you watch WNBA game. I most definately do not. The speed of the game is so slow and all of the flopping and falling around to get the plethora of loose balls is unwatchable. If a guy at my club played like that he would never get picked. Now don’t try to paint me as a guy whose knuckles are dragging the ground. I would much rather watch women’s tennis than men’s. Frankly women’s basketball is such an ugly version of what I grew up watching and playing that I will never acknowlede it as a sport. I most definately could and would destroy a WNBA player. As the ad goes “I would say that” and I don’t expect great I still expect low level mediocrity.

75. September 25th, 2009 at 10:02 am

    WarLadyTigers says:

    Hey – NBA fans – the guys haven’t played true basketball for years…….they are overpaid “whinny babies” who play an “it’s all about me game” and hang on the rim. Rather than change the women’s game – where they actually play basketball….lets make the men’s court larger and raise the rim, make hanging on it a foul and see how they do when they have to actually play defense and offense again.

76. March 10th, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    Someone says:

    I asked on Google wut kind of stuff u need to hav to be in tha wnba and i dont see it anywhere in here!! and its 4 a reaserch paper!! i hate google!! lol