View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
pilight
Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 66773 Location: Where the action is
Back to top |
Posted: 11/11/15 4:23 pm ::: Why the W could be the greatest league in the world |
Reply |
|
http://trueafrica.co/article/why-the-wnba-could-be-the-greatest-basketball-league-in-the-world/
Quote: |
This is a very touchy topic for people within and around the WNBA. It is supposed to be the best league in the world for women but if Europe or Asia are playing more and the athletes are getting the love they deserve elsewhere, the status of the WNBA is thrown into question. Is it really respected? Should future basketball players be aspiring to play in the WNBA? |
_________________ Let us not deceive ourselves. Our educational institutions have proven to be no bastions of democracy.
|
|
Jet Jaguar
Joined: 11 Feb 2014 Posts: 1111
Back to top |
Posted: 11/11/15 5:27 pm ::: |
Reply |
|
Quote: |
But WNBA still doesnt make money not only compared to the NBA but also compared to leagues in Europe, where womens basketball is appreciated far more and the money is much better than in the US. |
I don't know if I agree with this necessarily. I'd have to see some hard numbers to support this. I watch a lot of overseas ball and, except for some of the big big teams like Fener, UMMC, Bourges, etc., I don't see all this support. Most play in small venues and still don't fill up those stadiums (I guess I should call them gyms). As a whole, the WNBA crowds are much larger. It's true they get paid more, but a lot of that has to do with government funding and/or rich owners who do it out of country or city pride or even a hobby and don't mind losing money. And some can only lose money for so long before they can't even pay their players. Even some of the bigger clubs fold from lack of money (Ros Casares folded the year after winning the Spanish Championship)
_________________ Oderint dum metuant - Let them hate, so long as they fear
|
|
Richyyy
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 24327 Location: London
Back to top |
Posted: 11/11/15 6:32 pm ::: |
Reply |
|
Yeah, my response to that line was 'no, not really' as well. Also, the writer's one of the hosts of a podcast (and now youtube show) over here in the UK, that as far as I know has always completely ignored the WNBA. I just feel like with the sentiments expressed in the article that you'd think they could've covered the WNBA a little during the long NBA offseason.
Nice to see someone else in the UK who's at least aware that the WNBA exists, though. |
|
ClayK
Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 11105
Back to top |
Posted: 11/12/15 11:29 am ::: |
Reply |
|
So what does it mean to be "the best league in women's basketball"?
For me, it's about the quality of play on a nightly basis, and that would be the WNBA. Granted, I not as familiar with the elite teams in Europe, but since they restrict rosters by nationality, it's pretty clear the goal isn't to get the best players in the world. The question would be, though, whether restricting rosters by using a maximum salary cap does more to limit talent than restricting rosters by limiting the number of American players.
_________________ Oį¹ TÄre TuttÄre Ture SvÄhÄ
|
|
GlennMacGrady
Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 8152 Location: Heisenberg
Back to top |
Posted: 11/12/15 12:19 pm ::: |
Reply |
|
"But it all boils down to the fact that the NBA has always seen the WNBA as a side business. It almost feels like they set up the league to shut women." |
|
ClayK
Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 11105
Back to top |
Posted: 11/12/15 6:03 pm ::: |
Reply |
|
GlennMacGrady wrote: |
"But it all boils down to the fact that the NBA has always seen the WNBA as a side business. It almost feels like they set up the league to shut women." |
They set up the league to make sure the NBA's monopoly on American professional basketball in all possible aspects was maintained.
_________________ Oį¹ TÄre TuttÄre Ture SvÄhÄ
|
|
|
|