WNBA on the rise

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by LD84

I hope they can reach an agreement, but I would also not be surprised if we see some sort of labor stoppage in the near future.

Uh-oh.

Breanna Stewart explains why players are 'frustrated' by WNBA's initial proposal in critical CBA negotiations

Stewart and the players felt their requests were 'ignored' by the WNBA's first proposal

The 2025 season is a massive one for the WNBA for a few reasons. The league is in the midst of a surge in popularity that has led to six new expansion teams, including the Golden State Valkyries who are in their inaugural season currently, and just secured a new national TV rights deal as part of the NBA's broader contract.

That means money is flowing into the W at a rate never seen before and the players want to ensure they are getting their fair share. Prior to the season, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike laid out some of the biggest focal points for the players in negotiations, including codifying charter travel and an increase in the share of revenue that goes to the players. However, the preseason optimism that the two sides would be able to work out an agreement that both parties were happy with has waned on the players' side after receiving the WNBA's first proposal.

Satou Sabally called it "a slap in the face" when talking to reporters on Tuesday, and Breanna Stewart echoed that sentiment on Thursday by saying it felt like the players were "ignored" by the WNBA's initial offer.

[Déjà Bru]

Does the quality of WNBA officiating also need to improve? Angel Reese seems to think so. From The Athletic:

Angel Reese fed up with WNBA officiating: ‘I’m tired of this’

By Darnell Mayberry



Angel Reese voiced her displeasure with the way she and the Chicago Sky have been officiated throughout the season.

Reese aired her grievances following the Sky’s 80-75 loss at the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday — a game in which the Lynx outshot the Sky 17-8 at the foul line.

“It’s tough when you talk to officials, and I ask them, ‘Hey, we only shot two — we only been to the free-throw line twice, up until the fourth quarter,'” Reese said. “And she tells me it’s not her job. It’s frustrating because I know how hard we’re battling inside and I think we came down and fought as hard as we could inside. That has to be fixed.

“I don’t give a damn if I get fined because that s— cheap, and I’m tired of this s—. I’ve been nice and I’ve been humble, but I’m tired of this s—.”

The Sky average 18.3 free throws, ranking 10th among the league’s 13 franchises. The Washington Mystics lead the league at 24.6 free throws per game. The Seattle Storm rank last at 15.9 per game.

Reese, who averages 12.6 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists, is attempting 4.4 free throws per game, ranking 13th among all players.

Sunday’s loss dropped the Sky to 5-12 on the season, while the Lynx, who own the WNBA’s best record, improved to 17-2.

[Cobra Mgr]

NBA officiating is the worst out of the 4 major N.American sports. And they are supposed to be the best basketball refs in the world. Next best would be the major colleges. So how bad would the WNBA refs obviously be?

It starts at the start. As I've said before, the process to become a basketball official is asinine. It doesn't draw in those w/the best qualifications. It draws in those w/the best circumstances.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Does the quality of WNBA officiating also need to improve? Angel Reese seems to think so.

She's starting to lose sympathy votes with this behavior, though. You don't treat people like this and it's less worthy the lower down the totem pole the person to whom you do.

Angel Reese slaps clipboard from Sky coach's hand, responds to backlash: 'Not happening again'

The phrase "whiny baby" is coming to mind.

[Déjà Bru]

At one point in this article, it says "Reese has become one of the most polarizing athletes in sports". The sentence does not end there, but I will not go any further because I don't want this thread to devolve into that discussion. Suffice for here to say that she certainly is a lightning rod.

Shaquille O'Neal warns Robert Griffin III to stop posting about Angel Reese: 'I'll punch you in the face'

The author also says this: "Personally, if I found myself in a position where Shaq was threatening to punch me in the face if I continue doing something, I would simply stop doing that thing. We'll see if RGIII heeds this warning from O'Neal."

You think?



EDIT: Well, I will leave the post up because I think the story is funny, but what is not so funny is what caused this ruckus. Do your own search; I will not link to it. Let's not talk about it here. As a matter of fact, after this, I am not talking about Angel Reese, either, except in terms of how she plays basketball.

[Déjà Bru]

In the "End of MLB All Star Game" thread, I talked about "a few tweaks and wrinkles to make it something that people actually want to watch" an All-Star game. It seems the WNBA has that in mind, too. How about:

• 4-point shot circles?
• a 20-second shot clock?
• live-play, hockey-style substitutions?
• no free throws until the final two minutes of regulation (penalty points awarded instead)?

2025 WNBA All-Star Game rule changes

[monkeyman576]

How about 1:00 power plays for major fouls?

[Amazin69]

How about a competitive basketball game where everybody tries to win and thus playing defense is allowed?

I know, ridiculous.
********************************

There was a Caitlin Clark featurette on my local news, and so I actually looked at the WNBA for the first time in however long. I see we're now up to shoulder patch AND belly AND lower-back sponsors on the unis. We're halfway to being ****ing NASCAR.

And the Sports I Actually Watch shouldn't be smug either…this disaster is headed our way, too. Get ready for the Valtrex™ Dodgers vs the RectiCare™ Yankees in the Series, with only a tiny sleeve logo visible amongst the ads.

"That's how they do it in Europe!" Yeah, well Europe has had lots of bad ideas, too. Not everything is The Beatles…or even Mungo Jerry.

[Cobra Mgr]

Say what now?

[LD84]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Say what now?

That was pretty funny. I saw the clip going around earlier today.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

I see we're now up to shoulder patch AND belly AND lower-back sponsors on the unis. We're halfway to being ****ing NASCAR.

They've actually dialed it back. For a while teams had sponsor logos replacing the team name.

[LD84]

I guess this answers why Boston did not get an expansion team.

I feel bad for the people of Connecticut

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by LD84

I guess this answers why Boston did not get an expansion team.

I feel bad for the people of Connecticut

You are referring to this, I believe:

Connecticut Sun sale: Celtics owner agrees to buy WNBA team, plans to relocate franchise to Boston, per report

Boston could have a WNBA team by 2027, if the league signs off on the sale

Four thoughts:

1. Connecticut does not have a good track record for supporting professional sports.

2. Uncasville, the home of Mohegan Sun and where the Connecticut Sun plays its home games, is only 30 miles from Storrs, CT where the Huskies play. UConn wins any head-to-head competition for fans with the Connecticut Sun.

3. Let's face it; do the people inhabiting the Mohegan Sun hotel and casino strike you as likely WNBA fans? This chart seems to indicate that it's not working.



4. A move to Boston will be an immediate upgrade in prestige and attendance for the organization and the league as a whole.

[LD84]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

You are referring to this, I believe:

Connecticut Sun sale: Celtics owner agrees to buy WNBA team, plans to relocate franchise to Boston, per report

Boston could have a WNBA team by 2027, if the league signs off on the sale

Yes, it is now being called not a done deal. But I think that may be in paperwork only.
It seems there is some weird stuff where the WNBA treats expansion teams and franchise relocations the same.

But I fully expect the teams sale to go through and the franchise to end up in Boston.

Part of what you cited may be down to the teams location.
They are actually located in Uncasville, Connecticut which is south of Norwich.
And from what I understand from what few contacts I have in the area, not really close to anything unless you have like a casino night/weekend.

It is not really convenient for Hartford, Providence or western Massachusetts to attend games.


The idea of a move to Boston would be to have them play in TD Garden which is where the Celtics and Bruins play and is right in downtown Boston and is easy to get to.

I would expect some kind of franchise rebrand to occur.
One thing I do not associate with Boston is the sun

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by LD84

I would expect some kind of franchise rebrand to occur.
One thing I do not associate with Boston is the sun

Not exactly a feature of Connecticut either. Probably should be called the Connecticut Commuters

[pilight]

Uncasville is absolutely in the middle of nowhere. I went up there for the WNBA All Star game in 2015 and it was forever away from anything other than the casino.

The Sun's ownership model was good for the W for a long time, but it's too limited for the next stage of the league's evolution.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by LD84

I feel bad for the people of Connecticut

I don't think you have to feel all that bad for them.

Sure, they would like a home team to root for, but generally this is the situation.

It is why you will not see a successful major league franchise in Connecticut or Rhode Island.

(The upper blue line is the Connecticut River. East of the lower blue line are the Twin Forks of Long Island).

[Déjà Bru]

There is no doubt that social media has contributed to the decline of our society. For, when one moron has a stupid idea, it gets broadcasted to other morons. These others, who are also looking for significance rather than facing the grim fact that they are insignificant just like 99% of us, take it upon themselves to do or say the same thing as the first moron.

There have always been outright morons in our society. Social media now activates, intensifies, and normalizes their stupidity. Moreover, people who are only marginally or potentially stupid are led down the wrong path.

I will leave unsaid exactly what occurrences that I am referring to as I do not want to devote any more forum space or the time and effort to discuss the nonsense any further.

[mytreds]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

There is no doubt that social media has contributed to the decline of our society. For, when one moron has a stupid idea, it gets broadcasted to other morons. These others, who are also looking for significance rather than facing the grim fact that they are insignificant just like 99% of us, take it upon themselves to do or say the same thing as the first moron.

There have always been outright morons in our society. Social media now activates, intensifies, and normalizes their stupidity. Moreover, people who are only marginally or potentially stupid are led down the wrong path.

I will leave unsaid exactly what occurrences that I am referring to as I do not want to devote any more forum space or the time and effort to discuss the nonsense any further.

Is this a Talk Sports thread or is it Deja Bru’s diary?

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

You are referring to this, I believe:

Connecticut Sun sale: Celtics owner agrees to buy WNBA team, plans to relocate franchise to Boston, per report

Boston could have a WNBA team by 2027, if the league signs off on the sale

Four thoughts:

1. Connecticut does not have a good track record for supporting professional sports.

2. Uncasville, the home of Mohegan Sun and where the Connecticut Sun plays its home games, is only 30 miles from Storrs, CT where the Huskies play. UConn wins any head-to-head competition for fans with the Connecticut Sun.

3. Let's face it; do the people inhabiting the Mohegan Sun hotel and casino strike you as likely WNBA fans? This chart seems to indicate that it's not working.

Attachment 1075384

4. A move to Boston will be an immediate upgrade in prestige and attendance for the organization and the league as a whole.

Ten seconds of research shows an average ticket price in the WNBA of $47.15.

This gives a QUICK $85 MILLION dollars in revenue, JUST for the tickets.

This is $530k per player, and doesn't include parking, merchandising, media, or concessions.

Given the average salary of just over $200k, you can't convince me that the WNBA isn't IMMENSELY profitable.