Every recorded Dunk in WNBA history

[Maxthirty]

I literally don't think that the adjustment from 10' to 9' is that big of a deal. Whenever I play on 9' rims, it only takes a few shots before you adjust. Not a big deal. They should def lower the rims.

And this is an obvious one no one wants to address for obvious reasons but why do men (even those not interested in the sport) find women's volleyball or women's tennis appealing? Hint hint. Nearly 70% of WNBA viewers are men. Switch up the jerseys to make them more...appealing.

Really? I’d rather not play at all than play on a 9 ft rim.

[theforumblue]

Raising it would be an adjustment. Lowering it? I don't recall having to do a whole lot when I did shoot on a shorter rim, it's just easier. It's kinda ridiculous they don't even try it. It's just misplaced pride.

But I don't see it leading to explosion on number of dunks. It's not like they're routinely making layups at the rim or something. But even having more interesting layups would still go a long way.

[jwood255]

I literally don't think that the adjustment from 10' to 9' is that big of a deal. Whenever I play on 9' rims, it only takes a few shots before you adjust. Not a big deal. They should def lower the rims.

And this is an obvious one no one wants to address for obvious reasons but why do men (even those not interested in the sport) find women's volleyball or women's tennis appealing? Hint hint. Nearly 70% of WNBA viewers are men. Switch up the jerseys to make them more...appealing.

You don't need to sexualize the sport. Women's sports have suffered long enough with ridiculous outfit requirements like the beach volleyball or tennis.

Ideal world, sure. But we're talking about what works and this is a struggling league. WNBA players saying they don't get paid enough. Surely the solution isn't...trying nothing at all after 24 seasons.

[dickfox]

Riveting stuff here.

[jokeboy86]

Is dunking important? Would the WNBA product be better if they played on 9 foot rims?

Assuming this is a genuine questions - in theory I believe it would help the entertainment value for the masses. The ball is already smaller and the 3 pt line is closer. More than any sport, basketball at the pro level in the US displays out of this world athleticism. The women's game is very sound at a technical level. There is a reason why pro and semi-pro basketball players appreciate women's basketball so much more than the general public as compared to other sports. However, most fans have grown to see the game through the lens of athleticism and so can't really identify it. Race is also definitely a factor but I don't want to derail this conversation. However, there are two rebuttals against lowering the nets, both very legitimate:

1. Most women don't want the net lowered and they should have the final say in their sport
2. Youth rims are by and large not adjustable so you can't have the adjustment go down all the way to the grassroots level, thus limiting effectiveness and access

So, end of the day this is a moot proposal and we need to appreciate (and the WNBA needs to learn) to promote the Women's game as currently played.

Curious how race is a factor cause I've never heard it mentioned before in regards to the WNBA not being popular.

[shangrila]

It's not that impressive when you realise she's one of a handful of players in that league's entire history that is physically capable of dunking. Even less so when you realise it's just because she's tall.

For all the complaints that WNBA threads get trolled here, I mean...what do you expect? It is an inferior product and this is an NBA forum. There's not really a place for it here, in the same way that NBL threads would get mocked for example.

Now maybe we should have a WNBA subforum somewhere for those that enjoy it, I'm actually surprised we don't. But don't bring it to General and expect everyone to either love it or stay silent.

The OP didn't expect that. Or if they did, they didn't express that so we needn't assume it. This poster found that Griner stat interesting. You didn't. Okay.

To each their own, but I would find a relatively uninteresting topic far less offensive than the 70% or so of GB threads that are just absurd hot takes based on tiny sample sizes or are intentional trolls of the same handful of players.

My last comment, the one I assume you're responding to, wasn't directed at the OP. It was meant for the handful of other posters that said that stuff, complaining about how WNBA threads get treated here.

And while I get the General board burnout I don't think injecting stuff from other sports is the way to go.

[SNPA]

But I don't see it leading to explosion on number of dunks. It's not like they're routinely making layups at the rim or something. But even having more interesting layups would still go a long way.

It should be lowered proportionately to create a level playing field with men. Average standing reach/vertical of pro male players relative to a ten foot rim and use that calculation with the average standing reach/vertical of female pro players to find the co-equal rim height.

[theforumblue]

But I don't see it leading to explosion on number of dunks. It's not like they're routinely making layups at the rim or something. But even having more interesting layups would still go a long way.

It should be lowered proportionately to create a level playing field with men. Average standing reach/vertical of pro male players relative to a ten foot rim and use that calculation with the average standing reach/vertical of female pro players to find the co-equal rim height.

i do think it should be lowered like 5-6 inches. volleyball has 7 inch difference ( 7'11 vs 7'4) and no one has a problem with that. the problem is really the average athleticism though. on playgrounds and in gyms guys are routinely making far more athletic looking shots all below the rim. to me lowering the rim significantly possibly opens the women up to looking kind of ridiculous when it ends up not making significant difference in style of play.

i have seen videos recently of some high school girls dunking with relative ease though. so who knows. it really might be evolving.

[J_T]

There are many 5ft 10 men that can easily dunk. So height is not really the problem here. It might be that there are actually certain ... you know... biological differences between men and women. I know, I know, I'm a misogynistic pig and shouldn't be left alive in 21st century.

[MrPerfect1]

Is dunking important? Would the WNBA product be better if they played on 9 foot rims?

The women's game is very sound at a technical level.

I always see this statement and I think is completely false. If it is very sound technically then why do you see airballs so frequently and turnovers that look worse rhan even Westbrook puts on tape?

If you want technically sound, you probably are talking Men's Division 3.

[bbalnation]

Lowering the rim to 9 feet isn't an accessible solution long term. With something like the WNBA, you want to produce long-term, international fans.

When kids go outside to play like their favorite players do, they're playing on a similar sized rim too. It makes things more complicated.

If anything, the increase in the amount of dunks we've seen in the last decade tells us that the size and/or athleticism is improving, even if its just from a couple of players.

Besides, the WNBA has its own brand. Its fans appreciate how much the teams embrace the technical team play, the structured 5v5, etc. Thats in its early stages. In 20 years, it could be even cooler to see.

[Goomba3666]

Really shows you how amazing the post defense is in the WNBA.

This bodied me.

[G35]

I'm ready for a dunk contest.....