Can The WNBA Be Improved Financially? Is this what you wanted.
- Thread starter Gazoo
- Start date
Man in Houston we had the dam Comets. Won the first 4 WNBA championships. When the team folded it was owned by a furniture salesmen who had cheesy commercials on late at night. The team worth was trash that a furniture store owner could purchase smh.
Top coaches seek own women's tourney TV deal
play
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- As the NCAA closes in on a decision about what to do about its next media rights contract for its sport championships, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and UCLA coach Cori Close enthusiastically support the women's basketball tournament getting its own separate television deal.
Currently, the NCAA has a television deal with ESPN for its Division I championships, excluding men's basketball and football. That deal runs through 2023-24.
In a report the NCAA commissioned in 2021 to study gender inequities between the men's and women's tournaments, independent media expert Ed Desser estimated the annual broadcast rights for women's basketball would be worth between $81 million and $112 million in 2025.
The report points out that number is multiple times higher than the current deal, which pays $34 million annually for its championships package.
The NCAA is expected to make a decision by the fall, so it can then begin negotiations.
"It should happen," Staley said Friday, the day before her Gamecocks play UCLA in the Sweet 16. "We're at that place where we're in high demand. I do believe women's basketball can stand on its own and be a huge revenue-producing sport that could do, to a certain extent, what men's basketball has done for all those other sports, all those other Olympic sports and women's basketball.
"I do believe we were probably at a place years ago, but until we're able to have the decision-makers give us that opportunity ... It's slowly building up to that because there's proof in the numbers."
South Carolina's 64-49 win over UConn in the national championship game last year had 4.85 million viewers, the most-watched college basketball game on ESPN (men or women) since 2008. Overall, last year's tournament saw a 16% increase in viewers and the Final Four weekend was the most watched.
Earlier this year, 1.5 million viewers tuned to ESPN to watch South Carolina beat LSU, the most watched regular-season women's basketball game since 2010.
This year's national title game will be on ABC, the first time that has happened on network television since 1995.
In addition to wanting it's tournament to be negotiated as a separate rights package, Close is in favor of a unit distribution model similar to what the men receive for participation in the NCAA tournament. Close, who also serves as WBCA president, said other coaches she has talked to are in favor of this model as well.
"I think it needs to happen hand in hand," Close said. "It was one of the major parts of the Kaplan report a few years back. As a new media rights deal is worked on hopefully by the NCAA for a standalone deal with women's basketball in that space, I think there needs to be a meaningful unit distribution associated with that.
"I don't think any of us are asking for it to be just like the men. Obviously, they're ahead of us in that deal. But I do think it's the next right step."
https://www.espn.com/womens-college...ches-want-separate-tv-deal-women-ncaa-tourney
play
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- As the NCAA closes in on a decision about what to do about its next media rights contract for its sport championships, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and UCLA coach Cori Close enthusiastically support the women's basketball tournament getting its own separate television deal.
Currently, the NCAA has a television deal with ESPN for its Division I championships, excluding men's basketball and football. That deal runs through 2023-24.
In a report the NCAA commissioned in 2021 to study gender inequities between the men's and women's tournaments, independent media expert Ed Desser estimated the annual broadcast rights for women's basketball would be worth between $81 million and $112 million in 2025.
The report points out that number is multiple times higher than the current deal, which pays $34 million annually for its championships package.
The NCAA is expected to make a decision by the fall, so it can then begin negotiations.
"It should happen," Staley said Friday, the day before her Gamecocks play UCLA in the Sweet 16. "We're at that place where we're in high demand. I do believe women's basketball can stand on its own and be a huge revenue-producing sport that could do, to a certain extent, what men's basketball has done for all those other sports, all those other Olympic sports and women's basketball.
"I do believe we were probably at a place years ago, but until we're able to have the decision-makers give us that opportunity ... It's slowly building up to that because there's proof in the numbers."
South Carolina's 64-49 win over UConn in the national championship game last year had 4.85 million viewers, the most-watched college basketball game on ESPN (men or women) since 2008. Overall, last year's tournament saw a 16% increase in viewers and the Final Four weekend was the most watched.
Earlier this year, 1.5 million viewers tuned to ESPN to watch South Carolina beat LSU, the most watched regular-season women's basketball game since 2010.
This year's national title game will be on ABC, the first time that has happened on network television since 1995.
In addition to wanting it's tournament to be negotiated as a separate rights package, Close is in favor of a unit distribution model similar to what the men receive for participation in the NCAA tournament. Close, who also serves as WBCA president, said other coaches she has talked to are in favor of this model as well.
"I think it needs to happen hand in hand," Close said. "It was one of the major parts of the Kaplan report a few years back. As a new media rights deal is worked on hopefully by the NCAA for a standalone deal with women's basketball in that space, I think there needs to be a meaningful unit distribution associated with that.
"I don't think any of us are asking for it to be just like the men. Obviously, they're ahead of us in that deal. But I do think it's the next right step."
https://www.espn.com/womens-college...ches-want-separate-tv-deal-women-ncaa-tourney
Cute lil tall thang ain't it?
WNBA adds charters for playoffs, back-to-backs
The WNBA is expanding the use of charter flights to include back-to-back regular-season games during the 2023 season as well as all playoff games.
I went to a few WNBA game and I am looking forward to going to the games this summer - it has a college atmosphere and the crowd is into the games more than then NBA crowds are -
Let's Go NY Liberty
Let's Go NY Liberty
Why did LSU's Alexis Morris get cut from her WNBA team? The answer lies in the numbers.
Alexis Morris' release from the WNBA's Connecticut Sun — the team that drafted her just last month — may have come as a surprise to casual fans.
Those who closely follow the WNBA know a cold truth: It's all too common.
It's an issue of pure numbers.
Morris, the standout point guard who helped LSU win a national championship last month, was taken in the second round of the WNBA draft April 10.
She was one of three players cut by the Sun this week as WNBA teams trim their rosters to the league maximum.
"This is a tough league," general manager Darius Taylor told WTIC-TV. "It was a tough decision, but some of it is, we're trying to get our roster together, trying to get our (player) rotations right and getting them used to playing with each other. It's a hard league to make. It's unfortunate that we had to do it, but we had to do it to move forward and get our team prepared for opening day."
Morris is now free to catch on with another team if she can.
But for her and many others, it's a difficult climb.
The WNBA consists of 12 teams. Each team has a minimum of 11 players and a maximum of 12 players. Those parameters were set by the league and players' collective bargaining agreement.
The math is simple: At any given time, a grand total of 144 women are on an WNBA roster.
And although the WNBA draft lasts three rounds, it's common for draftees to get cut.
Look no further than last year, when the Las Vegas Aces traded up for the Nos. 8 and 13 picks. They drafted Mya Hollngshed and ex-LSU point guard Khayla Pointer.
The Aces cut both players. (Pointer caught on with the Indiana Fever last year. She is now a free agent.)
Of all players drafted from the WNBA's inception in 1997 through last season, 42% never made a roster.
The league is looking into adding expansion teams, and over the years, fans have called for a roster expansion to 13 or 14 players per team. But as WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert said before this year's draft: “We think today our rosters are the right size.”
Becky Hammon suspended 2 games for comments on Dearica Hamby’s pregnancy; Aces also forfeit draft pick in 2nd investigation
According to the WNBPA, the punishment "misses the mark."
LSU president takes on the WNBA after release of Alexis Morris and other young standouts
LSU president William Tate IV has spoken out, questioning the business model of the WNBA following the release of a pair of former Tigers and some other notable former college stars.
Alexis Morris and Ladazhia Williams, a pair of former Tigers who helped lead Kim Mulkey's squad to the 2023 national title, were both let go by WNBA squads after being drafted. While Williams has landed with an Israeli team after being cut by the Indiana Fever, it remains to be seen where Morris is headed next after being released by the Connecticut Sun.
On Tuesday, Tate took note on social media of the release of former Iowa standout Monika Czinano by the Los Angeles Sparks and ex-South Carolina star Destanni Henderson by the Fever.
"Remained quiet when my students were released," Tate said in a tweet. "No claim of sour grapes here…but the WNBA business model is suboptimal. Players are better served in college or with other transparent options to aspire. I hope this market learns to tap into the passion of college WBB.
Tate described Henderson as "one of the best to do it."
"This is inconsistent with building brand and followers," Tate said of the release of Henderson. "She is one of the best to do it. Wish her well. Her talent warrants new options. You can not cut your way to greatness. Future WNBA business model must include player growth. NBA and corporate partners need a push."
The WNBA has future plans to expand, but it has a limited number of roster spots thanks to a lineup of only 12 teams.
Until the league finds ways to grow the league, players like Morris and Williams will have to find their way overseas to play professional basketball.
LSU's Alexis Morris causes a stir by saying WNBA vets should retire, make room for rookies
LSU's Alexis Morris causes a stir by saying WNBA vets should retire, make room for rookies
LSU product Alexis Morris says WNBA veterans should retire, make room for rookies.
An early departure from the WNBA isn't sitting well with former LSU star Alexis Morris, and she wants to see changes in the league to make room for herself and other former college standouts.
Morris seemed well on her way to a WNBA career when she attended the league's draft on April 10 and was selected No. 22 overall by the Connecticut Sun, but she's now possibly headed overseas to pursue a professional basketball career after she was cut earlier this month.
The point guard took to Twitter on Wednesday, suggesting that WNBA veterans retire so that younger players can be given opportunities to earn roster spots in the 12-team league.
She has since deleted the tweets, but not before plenty of people in the women's basketball community noticed.
"If you knocking at 35, hang it up and I mean WIRED HANGER "Hang it up"
"The vets gotta know when to cut the net, and pass the torch bro.."
"If we can't make roster spots for rookies, cut the vets"
The comments by Morris had to raise eyebrows for coaches and players currently in the league.
Among those who responded to Morris on social media was Sydney Colson, a 33-year-old guard for the Las Vegas Aces.
"The interesting part is that several vets (who were still capable players) didn’t make rosters years ago bc of cap space and it was cheaper to keep rookies," Colson said on Twitter. "As someone who’s been cut several, and I mean SEVERAL, times…it’s tough & not a great feeling, but it doesn’t mean it has to be the end of your career. Grind, have a chip on your shoulder, and work to get back."
Morris hasn't indicated what her plans are, but she should get an opportunity to play overseas much like her former teammate LaDazhia Williams, who has signed with an Israeli team.
Key & Peele should do a skit.
LSU's Alexis Morris causes a stir by saying WNBA vets should retire, make room for rookies
LSU's Alexis Morris causes a stir by saying WNBA vets should retire, make room for rookies
LSU product Alexis Morris says WNBA veterans should retire, make room for rookies.www.nola.com
An early departure from the WNBA isn't sitting well with former LSU star Alexis Morris, and she wants to see changes in the league to make room for herself and other former college standouts.
Morris seemed well on her way to a WNBA career when she attended the league's draft on April 10 and was selected No. 22 overall by the Connecticut Sun, but she's now possibly headed overseas to pursue a professional basketball career after she was cut earlier this month.
The point guard took to Twitter on Wednesday, suggesting that WNBA veterans retire so that younger players can be given opportunities to earn roster spots in the 12-team league.
She has since deleted the tweets, but not before plenty of people in the women's basketball community noticed.
"If you knocking at 35, hang it up and I mean WIRED HANGER "Hang it up"
"The vets gotta know when to cut the net, and pass the torch bro.."
"If we can't make roster spots for rookies, cut the vets"
The comments by Morris had to raise eyebrows for coaches and players currently in the league.
Among those who responded to Morris on social media was Sydney Colson, a 33-year-old guard for the Las Vegas Aces.
"The interesting part is that several vets (who were still capable players) didn’t make rosters years ago bc of cap space and it was cheaper to keep rookies," Colson said on Twitter. "As someone who’s been cut several, and I mean SEVERAL, times…it’s tough & not a great feeling, but it doesn’t mean it has to be the end of your career. Grind, have a chip on your shoulder, and work to get back."
Morris hasn't indicated what her plans are, but she should get an opportunity to play overseas much like her former teammate LaDazhia Williams, who has signed with an Israeli team.
I saw this
She was wilding and in her feelings