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Pelon chingon wrote:It's clear to me with all the gate keeping from the players/fans/media that the WNBA isn't really about championing women's basketball but a niche sub culture which actually explains their history of terrible ratings pre CC. But CC exists and is bringing a new fan to the wnba where it's about fun skill based hoop not whatever orientation or racist ideology you subscribe to. The WNBA should tread lightly they are one CC decision to take her talents elsewhere to returning to cross-country bus rides and motels where continental breakfasts are 50/50 at best.

theforumblue wrote:https://archive.ph/L0l7W

WSJ article on how wnba's awesome planning led to such rise in interest in the league this season.

I thought article itself is kinda meh. Most interesting aspect is the angle they're trying to push. It came off like they're trying to shape the narrative to minimize CC's impact.

The effect of Clark’s jaw-dropping shots from the midcourt logo and her pinpoint passing can not be overlooked. Before this season, no WNBA game since 2008 had drawn more than one million TV viewers. This year, 22 regular-season games drew one million or more. Clark’s Fever played in 19 of them.
Clark, who averaged more than 19 points a game and set the league single-season record for assists, won 66 of 67 votes for WNBA rookie of the year. Reese got the other vote.
Just as when Clark and Reese were in college, many fans took sides. In June, Reese went up to swat one of Clark’s shots and also caught her body. Earlier that month, Reese’s teammate Chennedy Carter had delivered a gratuitous hip check that knocked Clark to the ground. Both Reese and Carter were called for flagrant fouls—rough plays, but not usually headline news.
In the glare of the 2024 season, though, each inspired a firestorm. Some defenders of Clark directed attacks at Reese, Carter or other Black players, contending they were targeting Clark out of jealousy. Reese says she got death threats and has been followed to her home.
Clark was indeed on the receiving end of twice as many flagrant fouls (6 in 40 games) this season as any other player in the league, according to the data site Her Hoop Stats. But the number of such fouls called in a season can vary widely, and Clark’s status isn’t an outlier. Aerial Powers, for instance, was flagrantly fouled at nearly the same rate in 2022 (5 in 35 games). Clark pushed back on the toxic vitriol, saying, “People should not be using my name to push those agendas.”
The issue reached a boiling point in early September, when commissioner Engelbert was asked in a TV interview about her efforts to curb social-media discourse that carried a “menacing” tone toward players’ race or sexuality. Engelbert responded that the WNBA was experiencing the equivalent of the NBA’s late-1970s Larry Bird–Magic Johnson rivalry. She advised players who are targeted with abuse to simply ignore it.

MrDollarBills wrote:

Pelon chingon wrote:It's clear to me with all the gate keeping from the players/fans/media that the WNBA isn't really about championing women's basketball but a niche sub culture which actually explains their history of terrible ratings pre CC. But CC exists and is bringing a new fan to the wnba where it's about fun skill based hoop not whatever orientation or racist ideology you subscribe to. The WNBA should tread lightly they are one CC decision to take her talents elsewhere to returning to cross-country bus rides and motels where continental breakfasts are 50/50 at best.

I hate to break it to you, but game 3 of the finals averaged 1.4 million viewers. A new record.

The people who came initially for CC have stuck around for the other players that you hate so much. This information probably hurts your soul.

Reality is often disappointing. Maybe instead of trying to push a political agenda on this forum, maybe join in with the rest of us and watch Game 5 of what has been one of the best basketball finals I've ever seen.

Sealab2024 wrote:

theforumblue wrote:https://archive.ph/L0l7W

WSJ article on how wnba's awesome planning led to such rise in interest in the league this season.

I thought article itself is kinda meh. Most interesting aspect is the angle they're trying to push. It came off like they're trying to shape the narrative to minimize CC's impact.

From the article.

The effect of Clark’s jaw-dropping shots from the midcourt logo and her pinpoint passing can not be overlooked. Before this season, no WNBA game since 2008 had drawn more than one million TV viewers. This year, 22 regular-season games drew one million or more. Clark’s Fever played in 19 of them.
Clark, who averaged more than 19 points a game and set the league single-season record for assists, won 66 of 67 votes for WNBA rookie of the year. Reese got the other vote.
Just as when Clark and Reese were in college, many fans took sides. In June, Reese went up to swat one of Clark’s shots and also caught her body. Earlier that month, Reese’s teammate Chennedy Carter had delivered a gratuitous hip check that knocked Clark to the ground. Both Reese and Carter were called for flagrant fouls—rough plays, but not usually headline news.
In the glare of the 2024 season, though, each inspired a firestorm. Some defenders of Clark directed attacks at Reese, Carter or other Black players, contending they were targeting Clark out of jealousy. Reese says she got death threats and has been followed to her home.
Clark was indeed on the receiving end of twice as many flagrant fouls (6 in 40 games) this season as any other player in the league, according to the data site Her Hoop Stats. But the number of such fouls called in a season can vary widely, and Clark’s status isn’t an outlier. Aerial Powers, for instance, was flagrantly fouled at nearly the same rate in 2022 (5 in 35 games). Clark pushed back on the toxic vitriol, saying, “People should not be using my name to push those agendas.”
The issue reached a boiling point in early September, when commissioner Engelbert was asked in a TV interview about her efforts to curb social-media discourse that carried a “menacing” tone toward players’ race or sexuality. Engelbert responded that the WNBA was experiencing the equivalent of the NBA’s late-1970s Larry Bird–Magic Johnson rivalry. She advised players who are targeted with abuse to simply ignore it.

They also list the CBA from 2020, investments from outside sources around 2022 that led to huge expansions of their marketing department and owners investing in facilities as core reasons for league growth.

So no, their point was not to minimize CC but to explain how she arrived at basically the perfect time in league history to take advantage of what had already been done in the last 5 years and what had been building since 1997. Which she most certainly has, and good for her.

I've no idea why some on the Internet have decided to love Caitlyn but hate women's basketball. All I know is a lot of these CC Stans are just weird, creepy closeted bigots that have found something to latch onto and it isn't ok. I've been following women's BBall since the Lynx brought Lindsey Whalen home. It's always been a good product. That some couldn't wrap their heads around that is their problem and hiding behind Caitlyn to try to change their narrative is just cowardly.

theforumblue wrote:

Sealab2024 wrote:

theforumblue wrote:https://archive.ph/L0l7W

WSJ article on how wnba's awesome planning led to such rise in interest in the league this season.

I thought article itself is kinda meh. Most interesting aspect is the angle they're trying to push. It came off like they're trying to shape the narrative to minimize CC's impact.

From the article.

The effect of Clark’s jaw-dropping shots from the midcourt logo and her pinpoint passing can not be overlooked. Before this season, no WNBA game since 2008 had drawn more than one million TV viewers. This year, 22 regular-season games drew one million or more. Clark’s Fever played in 19 of them.
Clark, who averaged more than 19 points a game and set the league single-season record for assists, won 66 of 67 votes for WNBA rookie of the year. Reese got the other vote.
Just as when Clark and Reese were in college, many fans took sides. In June, Reese went up to swat one of Clark’s shots and also caught her body. Earlier that month, Reese’s teammate Chennedy Carter had delivered a gratuitous hip check that knocked Clark to the ground. Both Reese and Carter were called for flagrant fouls—rough plays, but not usually headline news.
In the glare of the 2024 season, though, each inspired a firestorm. Some defenders of Clark directed attacks at Reese, Carter or other Black players, contending they were targeting Clark out of jealousy. Reese says she got death threats and has been followed to her home.
Clark was indeed on the receiving end of twice as many flagrant fouls (6 in 40 games) this season as any other player in the league, according to the data site Her Hoop Stats. But the number of such fouls called in a season can vary widely, and Clark’s status isn’t an outlier. Aerial Powers, for instance, was flagrantly fouled at nearly the same rate in 2022 (5 in 35 games). Clark pushed back on the toxic vitriol, saying, “People should not be using my name to push those agendas.”
The issue reached a boiling point in early September, when commissioner Engelbert was asked in a TV interview about her efforts to curb social-media discourse that carried a “menacing” tone toward players’ race or sexuality. Engelbert responded that the WNBA was experiencing the equivalent of the NBA’s late-1970s Larry Bird–Magic Johnson rivalry. She advised players who are targeted with abuse to simply ignore it.

They also list the CBA from 2020, investments from outside sources around 2022 that led to huge expansions of their marketing department and owners investing in facilities as core reasons for league growth.

So no, their point was not to minimize CC but to explain how she arrived at basically the perfect time in league history to take advantage of what had already been done in the last 5 years and what had been building since 1997. Which she most certainly has, and good for her.

I've no idea why some on the Internet have decided to love Caitlyn but hate women's basketball. All I know is a lot of these CC Stans are just weird, creepy closeted bigots that have found something to latch onto and it isn't ok. I've been following women's BBall since the Lynx brought Lindsey Whalen home. It's always been a good product. That some couldn't wrap their heads around that is their problem and hiding behind Caitlyn to try to change their narrative is just cowardly.

so if CC had stayed in college one more year and indiana fever were the same team as last year you think wnba experiences the kind of attention it got this season? because these lines at the beginning of the article strongly imply that.

"But the reasons that the WNBA became the biggest professional sports story of 2024 run deeper than any single player. "

"Still, long before the arrival of 2024’s spectacular rookie class, team owners, executives and players had been laying the groundwork, making strategic commitments and investments, all of which reflected their confidence in the untapped potential of America’s longest-running women’s professional sports league."

"The road to this year’s gravity-defying season took years of planning. "

long time wnba fans on here have shown stats on wnba's growth pattern over the years and it clearly shows this year is an anomaly. to try to attribute that to savvy foresight of executives is kinda laughable.

CC was able to take advantage of things that were laid in place the last 5 years? like what? CC needed wnba's marketing? were teams already playing in bigger stadiums with bigger audiences and CC happened to just reap the benefit of that increased attendance?

i think wnba was headed in the right direction. but if anything things they were doing the last 5 years helped prepare them to deal with the impact CC had for the league not the other way around, and many would argue they weren't prepared enough. no one can "plan" an increase in eyeballs like what wnba had this year. to me this article spends a lot of time doing the "we were already here this year wasn't a fluke" thing that a lot of people in wnba were doing this season.

as for the personal attacks, get over yourself.

Sealab2024 wrote:

theforumblue wrote:

Sealab2024 wrote:
From the article.



They also list the CBA from 2020, investments from outside sources around 2022 that led to huge expansions of their marketing department and owners investing in facilities as core reasons for league growth.

So no, their point was not to minimize CC but to explain how she arrived at basically the perfect time in league history to take advantage of what had already been done in the last 5 years and what had been building since 1997. Which she most certainly has, and good for her.

I've no idea why some on the Internet have decided to love Caitlyn but hate women's basketball. All I know is a lot of these CC Stans are just weird, creepy closeted bigots that have found something to latch onto and it isn't ok. I've been following women's BBall since the Lynx brought Lindsey Whalen home. It's always been a good product. That some couldn't wrap their heads around that is their problem and hiding behind Caitlyn to try to change their narrative is just cowardly.

so if CC had stayed in college one more year and indiana fever were the same team as last year you think wnba experiences the kind of attention it got this season? because these lines at the beginning of the article strongly imply that.

"But the reasons that the WNBA became the biggest professional sports story of 2024 run deeper than any single player. "

"Still, long before the arrival of 2024’s spectacular rookie class, team owners, executives and players had been laying the groundwork, making strategic commitments and investments, all of which reflected their confidence in the untapped potential of America’s longest-running women’s professional sports league."

"The road to this year’s gravity-defying season took years of planning. "

long time wnba fans on here have shown stats on wnba's growth pattern over the years and it clearly shows this year is an anomaly. to try to attribute that to savvy foresight of executives is kinda laughable.

CC was able to take advantage of things that were laid in place the last 5 years? like what? CC needed wnba's marketing? were teams already playing in bigger stadiums with bigger audiences and CC happened to just reap the benefit of that increased attendance?

i think wnba was headed in the right direction. but if anything things they were doing the last 5 years helped prepare them to deal with the impact CC had for the league not the other way around, and many would argue they weren't prepared enough. no one can "plan" an increase in eyeballs like what wnba had this year. to me this article spends a lot of time doing the "we were already here this year wasn't a fluke" thing that a lot of people in wnba were doing this season.

as for the personal attacks, get over yourself.

Honest question. How many WNBA games have you watched this year?

theforumblue wrote:

Sealab2024 wrote:

theforumblue wrote:
so if CC had stayed in college one more year and indiana fever were the same team as last year you think wnba experiences the kind of attention it got this season? because these lines at the beginning of the article strongly imply that.

"But the reasons that the WNBA became the biggest professional sports story of 2024 run deeper than any single player. "

"Still, long before the arrival of 2024’s spectacular rookie class, team owners, executives and players had been laying the groundwork, making strategic commitments and investments, all of which reflected their confidence in the untapped potential of America’s longest-running women’s professional sports league."

"The road to this year’s gravity-defying season took years of planning. "

long time wnba fans on here have shown stats on wnba's growth pattern over the years and it clearly shows this year is an anomaly. to try to attribute that to savvy foresight of executives is kinda laughable.

CC was able to take advantage of things that were laid in place the last 5 years? like what? CC needed wnba's marketing? were teams already playing in bigger stadiums with bigger audiences and CC happened to just reap the benefit of that increased attendance?

i think wnba was headed in the right direction. but if anything things they were doing the last 5 years helped prepare them to deal with the impact CC had for the league not the other way around, and many would argue they weren't prepared enough. no one can "plan" an increase in eyeballs like what wnba had this year. to me this article spends a lot of time doing the "we were already here this year wasn't a fluke" thing that a lot of people in wnba were doing this season.

as for the personal attacks, get over yourself.

Honest question. How many WNBA games have you watched this year?

how many should i have watched before i can comment here?

Sealab2024 wrote:

theforumblue wrote:

Sealab2024 wrote:
Honest question. How many WNBA games have you watched this year?

how many should i have watched before i can comment here?

So none. That's what I thought.

Pelon chingon wrote:

MrDollarBills wrote:

Pelon chingon wrote:It's clear to me with all the gate keeping from the players/fans/media that the WNBA isn't really about championing women's basketball but a niche sub culture which actually explains their history of terrible ratings pre CC. But CC exists and is bringing a new fan to the wnba where it's about fun skill based hoop not whatever orientation or racist ideology you subscribe to. The WNBA should tread lightly they are one CC decision to take her talents elsewhere to returning to cross-country bus rides and motels where continental breakfasts are 50/50 at best.

I hate to break it to you, but game 3 of the finals averaged 1.4 million viewers. A new record.

The people who came initially for CC have stuck around for the other players that you hate so much. This information probably hurts your soul.

Reality is often disappointing. Maybe instead of trying to push a political agenda on this forum, maybe join in with the rest of us and watch Game 5 of what has been one of the best basketball finals I've ever seen.

The wnba is set to lose 40/50M this year. (again)
The ladies are not pulling their weight so kick back and enjoy watching the finals light money on fire.

theforumblue wrote:

Sealab2024 wrote:

theforumblue wrote:
how many should i have watched before i can comment here?

So none. That's what I thought.

enjoy your "in the good ol' days before 2024" convos with other 20yr loyal fans of wnba.

Sealab2024 wrote:Well, that was easy.

MrDollarBills wrote:

theforumblue wrote:

Sealab2024 wrote:
So none. That's what I thought.

enjoy your "in the good ol' days before 2024" convos with other 20yr loyal fans of wnba.

It's really weird that you don't watch games but come here to comment. I think we're at the point now where we know who is here for hoops and who is here for a political agenda, that Caitlin Clark has condemned. She doesn't like you guys, and never will.

Based on the ratings, there are more than 20 year fans watching what has been an incredible WNBA finals.

But since you don't watch games, you wouldn't know that.

theforumblue wrote:

MrDollarBills wrote:

theforumblue wrote:
enjoy your "in the good ol' days before 2024" convos with other 20yr loyal fans of wnba.

It's really weird that you don't watch games but come here to comment. I think we're at the point now where we know who is here for hoops and who is here for a political agenda, that Caitlin Clark has condemned. She doesn't like you guys, and never will.

Based on the ratings, there are more than 20 year fans watching what has been an incredible WNBA finals.

But since you don't watch games, you wouldn't know that.

i got no beef with you, although if you feel the need to jump in here and throw those kind of comments around then whatever i guess.

you guys should keep in mind that not every "just a CC fan" is here to push a political agenda, and dial down the sensitive trope a notch.

Billy Goat wrote:

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