The players of the WNBA are threatening to strike if a new deal is not worked out by the start of next season's training camp. The girls want more money (SHOCKING!!!) and better marketing opportunities. We all want more money, but for a strike to be effective, people have to give a rats ass. Sorry, but these girls are delusional.

Strike \"Threat\"?

The WNBA doesn't do anything for me. This league has many of the world's best players, but the level of play is painful to watch at times. You can market all you want, but if the product isn't very good, it's a tough sell. I surmise that the WNBA barely generates enough money to survive, let alone jack up players' salaries across the board.

I'm in the opposite camp in that I am a big fan of the WNBA. I've had the chance to go to a number of games and am very excited that the league exists and that women have the chance to play professional ball. I actually prefer the game to the NBA, to be honest.

Regarding salaries, however, I think the key is that player salaries are at a rate that is borne by the league. That is, players should not be kept at a low pay rate if the league is making money hand over fist. If, however, the money is pouring in then they have a legitimate complaint.

Well, if the WNBA did end up striking, I'd find a way to move on, seeing that I've never watched a single WNBA game in its entirety (tried, but too boring). But in the women's defense, it sounds like their demands are quite reasonable. The players' salaries are only 15% of the league's total revenues, whereas NBA players' salaries get 55%? Yeah, I'd be upset about it too. Since there is a rather long off-season, hopefully they have enough time to work everything out. Even if I'm not a big fan myself, I'd still hate to see a women's pro sports opportunity die because of an inability to work out what sounds like a very resolve-able situation.

Well...I don't know if the issue is if anyone cares...I think the issue is how much they are paid. I mean...the average salary in the WNBA is about $40,000. While that is fine for three months work, how much do NBA stars make? $20 million?

I think raising the salary a bit is fine and don't blame them.

I'll care. The Mystics are finally winning and now they talk about a strike.

The women agreed to very low starting salaries to support the league as it tried to make it out of infancy. Now, with several teams added in expansion moves, the league seems to be gaining strength. I think the players are just making it clear they want to see their deferred rewards.

How many top NBA talents would agree to being underpaid for their talent to help the health of the league? I don't think there is a problem with asking for something more.

I love the WNBA because there is more to the ladies' games than slamming the ball ala Shaq.

And besides, have you guys seen some of the commercials they are running during these games to appeal to women? It's hilarious in an extremely sexy kinda way.

I'll support the WNBA as long as they don't put a team in Atlanta because this is where teams come to die.

I'm still trying to figure out why the WNBA is listed here under "Women's Sports."

[quote]Originally posted by Ump25:
I'm still trying to figure out why the WNBA is listed here under "Women's Sports."

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Because the NBA has an unwritten rule about players wearing full-length cocktail dress & high heels.

I'm waiting for WNBA players to be treated like professionals on the floor: the game lasts the same amount of time as the college game (40 mins) and is divided the same way (2 halves); the teams don't play an extensively longer season than the college teams, so players are going overseas during the WNBA off-season. It's basically treated like a little satellite league--get these athletes to play longer games & a longer season. That's what I'd like to see.

Well, they don't want the end of the season to go up against MLB playoffs and the beginning of the NFL season, is one of the reasons why the season is so short.

Personally I think that these gals deserve more money. I'd have to look up the stats but, on the average, they're older than their male counterparts in the NBA, they don't come straight out of college or high school to play, and they seem to be able to stay out of jail and court. Hmmmm, if I had kids and was looking for a sport to show them what kind of role models to have I think the WNBA would win hands down.
Also, the reason they have such a short season is so they don't overlap with the NBA or with football. The moneymakers. Personally, I'd like to see the NBA reduce some of it's games because their season is just too damned long. I get tired of hearing about 'em along about the second month of the season. I can't even get interested in the NBA playoffs anymore. Isn't anyone here tired of hearing about how great individual players think they are and how much of an affect they have on their teams???? Personally, I'm sick of the egos in the NBA and wish they'd shut up and play, less.
The WNBA is still in its infancy, maybe a strike will generate more interest in the league and bring it some notoriety. Yeah, these women deserve more money, you bet; but has anyone seen how much the women's football players make?? Try something like $50 a game.

I have WNBA sport cards for sale, very cheap, if interested email at DallasT1@msn.com, thanks