WNBA Standing The Test of Time
Jumat, 03 Juni 2011 by Android Blackberry
WNBA Standing The Test of Time
Sheryl Swoopes was in the league during its inaugural season and is attempting a comeback this year with Tulsa.
Fifteen years ago, the people who planted the seeds that would turn into the WNBA knew history was not on their side.
Sixteen women's expert leagues had been tried and 16 had failed. The fact is, at the exact same time that the WNBA was ramping up, a direct competitor, referred to as the American Basketball League, was also preparing to debut.
The ABL would last 2½ years. But after a decade and a half, the WNBA still stands. And it stands tall, as it guidelines off its 15th season tonight with the L.A. Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx.
"The WNBA really is actually a beacon," stated former league president Val Ackerman. "This league has put out some very effective images about girls along with the capabilities of ladies in sports. In case you check out the state of women's sports in lots of other countries, the WNBA is just light-years ahead.
"It's something to be proud of. It is a treasure."
It truly is also a work in progress, an unfinished item.
The WNBA has lived for 15 years inside the reality of the sports landscape, one which could be unforgiving to start-up leagues and niche sports.
Overall league attendance has been consistent, if not overwhelming.
Teams have come and gone and showed up in new cities. The same is often said about sponsors.
Teams -- half of that are run by independent owners instead of NBA teams -- are running lean and mean with smaller rosters and coaching staffs.
Salaries have been held well below what the leading players make playing throughout the winter overseas. Break-even is still the monetary goal for lots of teams.
Network and cable tv coverage has waxed and waned and morphed into live World wide web streaming for just about every game on the schedule. Media coverage still pales in comparison to the main men's sports and also the league's credibility generally seems to be in question with the meat-and-potatoes segment of the mainstream sports audience.
The support of the NBA has undoubtedly helped "the W," as it's known as in commissioner David Stern's office, weather the tougher days.
The recent hire of Laurel Richie as the WNBA's third president, a woman with no sports background but a boatload of company and marketing experience, is often a nod to what's crucial if the league intends to make it to its 20th birthday.
But there is no denying the basketball. The basketball is just the very best in the world in the women's game.
The league is loaded with American and international stars, playing the game quicker and with additional skill than ever before.
Young talent is streaming into the league, making rosters increasingly competitive and exclusive.
San Antonio Stars coach Dan Hughes has coached inside the league for 10 seasons in Charlotte, Cleveland and San Antonio.
"The league has as excellent a talent base ideal now as I've ever seen," Hughes stated.
Sheryl Swoopes was one of the 1st three players to sign with the league back in 1996. Swoopes has signed with Tulsa and is looking to get back into the league at the age of 40 soon after a two-year absence.
"The talent level these days is so a lot far better, so various than it was 14 years ago," Swoopes said.
Rebecca Lobo was also among that very first trio -- along with Swoopes and Lisa Leslie.
Lobo is now a tv analyst for ESPN broadcasts.
"I couldn't have imagined 15 years, but I cannot envision myself as a 37-year-old either," Lobo stated. "For those of us who were there when it started, this is something we didn't consider as kids. I do not even keep in mind dreaming about a women's league. I wanted to play for the Celtics.
"But these rookies have grown up with the league. I'm even more proud of it since I've three young daughters plus the thought of the WNBA is just typical for them."
Typical. Assumed. Rightful. Those are the greatest points the WNBA has accomplished in 15 years.
"You need to wonder how numerous dreams have been realized and continue to be realized since this carrot has been dangled in front of small girls for the past 15 years," stated former All-Star Dawn Staley, now coaching at South Carolina. "If the WNBA had not been viable for the last 15 years, the game wouldn't be as good, the players wouldn't be as very good for the reason that there wouldn't be anything to shoot for.
Sheryl Swoopes was in the league during its inaugural season and is attempting a comeback this year with Tulsa.
Fifteen years ago, the people who planted the seeds that would turn into the WNBA knew history was not on their side.
Sixteen women's expert leagues had been tried and 16 had failed. The fact is, at the exact same time that the WNBA was ramping up, a direct competitor, referred to as the American Basketball League, was also preparing to debut.
The ABL would last 2½ years. But after a decade and a half, the WNBA still stands. And it stands tall, as it guidelines off its 15th season tonight with the L.A. Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx.
"The WNBA really is actually a beacon," stated former league president Val Ackerman. "This league has put out some very effective images about girls along with the capabilities of ladies in sports. In case you check out the state of women's sports in lots of other countries, the WNBA is just light-years ahead.
"It's something to be proud of. It is a treasure."
It truly is also a work in progress, an unfinished item.
The WNBA has lived for 15 years inside the reality of the sports landscape, one which could be unforgiving to start-up leagues and niche sports.
Overall league attendance has been consistent, if not overwhelming.
Teams have come and gone and showed up in new cities. The same is often said about sponsors.
Teams -- half of that are run by independent owners instead of NBA teams -- are running lean and mean with smaller rosters and coaching staffs.
Salaries have been held well below what the leading players make playing throughout the winter overseas. Break-even is still the monetary goal for lots of teams.
Network and cable tv coverage has waxed and waned and morphed into live World wide web streaming for just about every game on the schedule. Media coverage still pales in comparison to the main men's sports and also the league's credibility generally seems to be in question with the meat-and-potatoes segment of the mainstream sports audience.
The support of the NBA has undoubtedly helped "the W," as it's known as in commissioner David Stern's office, weather the tougher days.
The recent hire of Laurel Richie as the WNBA's third president, a woman with no sports background but a boatload of company and marketing experience, is often a nod to what's crucial if the league intends to make it to its 20th birthday.
But there is no denying the basketball. The basketball is just the very best in the world in the women's game.
The league is loaded with American and international stars, playing the game quicker and with additional skill than ever before.
Young talent is streaming into the league, making rosters increasingly competitive and exclusive.
San Antonio Stars coach Dan Hughes has coached inside the league for 10 seasons in Charlotte, Cleveland and San Antonio.
"The league has as excellent a talent base ideal now as I've ever seen," Hughes stated.
Sheryl Swoopes was one of the 1st three players to sign with the league back in 1996. Swoopes has signed with Tulsa and is looking to get back into the league at the age of 40 soon after a two-year absence.
"The talent level these days is so a lot far better, so various than it was 14 years ago," Swoopes said.
Rebecca Lobo was also among that very first trio -- along with Swoopes and Lisa Leslie.
Lobo is now a tv analyst for ESPN broadcasts.
"I couldn't have imagined 15 years, but I cannot envision myself as a 37-year-old either," Lobo stated. "For those of us who were there when it started, this is something we didn't consider as kids. I do not even keep in mind dreaming about a women's league. I wanted to play for the Celtics.
"But these rookies have grown up with the league. I'm even more proud of it since I've three young daughters plus the thought of the WNBA is just typical for them."
Typical. Assumed. Rightful. Those are the greatest points the WNBA has accomplished in 15 years.
"You need to wonder how numerous dreams have been realized and continue to be realized since this carrot has been dangled in front of small girls for the past 15 years," stated former All-Star Dawn Staley, now coaching at South Carolina. "If the WNBA had not been viable for the last 15 years, the game wouldn't be as good, the players wouldn't be as very good for the reason that there wouldn't be anything to shoot for.
WNBA Standing The Test of Time
