Heat check

[Everythingsducky]

I love that Sabrina and others have had great success in the WNBA. The WNBA players are hopefully now getting paid, commensurate to their TV audience. My question is honestly, how much do you care, or follow the WNBA? Are there games that you feel are ‘Must See’? Is the Reece vs. Clark the only storm that keeps you tuned in? With the announcement of new franchises watering down the talent level bother anyone? Does anyone record games to watch later? Not a hater, just getting a heat check.

[StevensTechU]

My question is honestly, how much do you care, or follow the WNBA?

I tune in for playoff games involving Sabrina and international competition. I know a number of people more into it all than me, especially women, and lots of dudes like me who are generally aware of the happenings. Looking at TV ratings data and attendance data will be your best answer.

Are there games that you feel are ‘Must See’? Is the Reece vs. Clark the only storm that keeps you tuned in?

For casuals like me, you tune in for specific players or storylines. But there is growing popularity with many other teams like Vegas and Seattle that just have a winning history.

With the announcement of new franchises watering down the talent level bother anyone?

Any increase would 'water it down' but after seeing the Olympics, there is a lot of comparable talent that isn't currently in the league.

Does anyone record games to watch later? Not a hater, just getting a heat check.

I know people who are season ticket holders, but does anyone record non-CFB games these days?

[pezsez1]

I don't follow the league closely enough to know many names, but if games are happening and the TV is free I'll put them on. So pretty much a casual fan right now. I'll be much more of a real fan once Portland's team gets going. I'm actually super excited to get to some of those games. In the meantime, I'm only really die-hard about teams that I have some kind of connection with... Ducks, Blazers, etc.

[Phalanx]

I went to Oregon City High School and we had a really good girls' basketball team every year. There was a particular girl on the team in the year ahead of me who I was gaga over. I think that is the last time I watched women playing basketball. I am only aware of Clark and Reese because I have to sift through headlines about them to get to the men's basketball I want to read about. No interest at all in the WNBA.

[pezsez1]

I went to Oregon City High School and we had a really good girls' basketball team every year.

Tammy Arnold and Lindsey Yamasaki absolutely terrorized my Milwaukie Mustangs.

[Phalanx]

I went to Oregon City High School and we had a really good girls' basketball team every year.

Tammy Arnold and Lindsey Yamasaki absolutely terrorized my Milwaukie Mustangs.

I remember both of them - a few years younger than me. I think Lindsey ended up at Stanford. Tammy showed up at the park I used to play at one time and got in our pick up game. She was like 6'3'' and I was glad she didn't block any of my shots.

[Duck07]

I do the video broadcasts for a lot of the OSAA playoffs and will follow the players who go to college or the few who have gone pro. Scott Rueck apparently recruited Ally Schimel from Corbett based on me comparing her shooting streak in the championship game to Clark, .

I don't have any interest in disparaging women's sports relative to the skill of their male counterparts etc but I do question the wisdom in the wnba getting too big too fast without a plan of grabbing more euro players to help the talent dilution problem that comes from expansion.

The thing about the success of professional women's leagues has always been about getting more female fans to be interested than men so if the players being more about their Brand than about Ball at times (seemingly) helps with that interest than so be it since I'm not the target audience.

[SuperDuck]

I don't follow the league closely enough to know many names, so I'm pretty much a casual fan right now. Maybe I'll be much more of a real fan once Portland's team gets going? In the meantime, I'm only really die-hard about teams that I have some kind of connection with... Ducks, etc.

[Boom]

I'll watch/follow Sabrina and her team. Last years finals was a must watch for me. Outside of Sabrina my interest is pretty minimal.

[StevensTechU]

I'll watch/follow Sabrina and her team. Last years finals was a must watch for me. Outside of Sabrina my interest is pretty minimal.

This speaks to how expanding the league may expand the viewership. More university alumni could equate to more interest.

[pezsez1]

This speaks to how expanding the league may expand the viewership. More university alumni could equate to more interest.

Absolutely. I didn't really follow the NFL until I became more of a college football fan. Same kind of thing with the WNBA. I've paid far more attention since Sabrina went to the league, and I'll definitely stop what I'm doing to watch her play. Her first game in Portland is going to be crazy!

[GrandpaDuck]

Big shock I'm sure but I watch more WNBA than NBA. Yes, girl dad and uncle/coach to a couple of collegiate women athletes so I am out of the norm. I used to be a big Blazer and NBA fan and then I stopped watching them all together. I never made a decision to do so. I apparently just lost interest and I'm not sure when or why.

I am neutral towards Clark. Great talent but I don't watch her games specifically.

Now that Portland has a team I am concerned about the WNBA's trend towards establishing super teams. Expansion diluting the non-supers and increasing that disparity is a concern.

[buckmarkduck]

I check the box score on Sabrina’s games. But people wanting them to get paid, how? It comes down to demand and viewership, which from the numbers it’s not there. The NBA has lost viewers in the US, but are propped up by overseas now. I don’t think China is watching the wnba.

[bellsduck]

I'll go to an occasional Duck game. Never watch it on tv.

Have never seen a WNBA game of any sort in any fashion and don't care to.

Have watched a couple Olympic games over the last 20 years, but that's about it.

[Duck07]

I check the box score on Sabrina’s games. But people wanting them to get paid, how? It comes down to demand and viewership, which from the numbers it’s not there. The NBA has lost viewers in the US, but are propped up by overseas now. I don’t think China is watching the wnba.

I believe their numbers are on par or better than what MLS gets and they certainly don't receive the same kind of pay so there is that.