The are no major issues with the health of the WNBA. Playoffs begin Thursday with extensive coverage on ESPN2, NBA TV and ESPN3, and the league is actually trending upward according to Carol Stiff, vice president of programming and acquisitions for ESPN. Why has this been such a good year for the WNBA?
Stiff » Our ratings have grown by 5 percent, merchandising of jersey’s T-shirts, caps, etc. is up and the overall quality of play has never been more competitive. We have some very smart owners, like the Mystics’ Sheila Johnson, who are committed to growing the league and spending money and time marketing the product.
How important is the college game to the success of the WNBA?
Stiff » ESPN has been a strong supporter of women’s college basketball, dedicating more programming to the game than ever before. We have been the home to the women’s NCAA tournament and championship game for years. As the popularity of the stars of the college game rises … when a player turns pro their fans follow them. So the WNBA see’s a great benefit from the success of women’s college basketball. Certainly programs like the University of Maryland have helped.
Why does there seem to be a trend of teams drafting college players from their region?
Stiff » Well, take the Mystics for instance. Seven players on their roster played college basketball in the ACC. Having players on the roster that fans of the University of Maryland are familiar with certainly does not hurt the Mystics and the same is the case around the league. Get the best players on your team as possible, but also keep an eye on your team’s geographical foot print. We have also seen an interest in the WNBA on an international level just as the NBA has. ESPN imports the WNBA worldwide.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
