The WNBA's challenge: How to translate the Caitlin Clark hype into sustained growth for the league
The stars have aligned for the WNBA with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese joining the ranks of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and others
The stars seemingly have aligned for the WNBA with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese joining the ranks of A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and others.
The league is getting unparalleled attention. Now the challenge for the WNBA after opening its 28th season Tuesday night is translating the hype and hoopla into a movement and not just a moment in its history.
It's a puzzle with various pieces: marketing strategies, fan engagement, corporate sponsors and TV deals built around intriguing basketball storylines and outsized personalities.
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said everyone involved needs to be more innovative in how players and games are marketed and promoted to take advantage of the potential tsunami for both the league and women’s sports.
«If you are business as usual, if you think that the status quo is going to work, you’re going to miss out on opportunities to capitalize from a business standpoint,” Reeve said.
Taurasi agrees.
“The one thing we’ve always done as players is brought that competitive spirit and fight,” said the 19-year Phoenix guard who has seen plenty of moments where the WNBA had momentum slip through the cracks. “And now it’s their job to carry it.”
Taurasi said it feels different this time with all the attention accompanying the rookie class.
But Len Elmore, a 10-year NBA veteran who spent 31 years as a TV broadcaster, said the rookies will have to do more than just show up.
“It’s not going to help if Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso don’t make the playoffs,” said Elmore, now a senior lecturer in sports management at Columbia
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