WNBA Draft

[A_B]

she just might prefer the awkward banter to your open mouthed stare

I've been frightening college-aged women for generations.

[mister d]

"So ... uh ... how come you don't do dunk shots?"

[brian]

I guess people can quit complaining about Caitlin Clark’s WNBA salary now.

(She just signed $28 million deal with Nike.)

[A_B]

If she plays in the W the way she played in college that is gonna be a steal for Nike.

[govmentchedda]

If she plays in the W the way she played in college that is gonna be a steal for Nike.

My thoughts exactly.

[sancarlos]

If she plays in the W the way she played in college that is gonna be a steal for Nike.

There seems to be some resentment of her among the old guard WNBA players, so it appears she’s really going to have to earn it.

[Johnnie]

If she plays in the W the way she played in college that is gonna be a steal for Nike.

There seems to be some resentment of her among the old guard WNBA players, so it appears she’s really going to have to earn it.

Oldheads gunna oldhead. What does she have to 'earn' exactly?

[mister d]

I get it. Its not her fault, but I get the resentment.

[A_B]

If she plays in the W the way she played in college that is gonna be a steal for Nike.

There seems to be some resentment of her among the old guard WNBA players, so it appears she’s really going to have to earn it.

Oldheads gunna oldhead. What does she have to 'earn' exactly?

She is gonna have to take a few hard fouls, carry some bags, buy a team dinner a few times. Horrible horrible stuff.

But I think it would be hilarious if the first time she played Taurasi she hunted her and just plowed right into her at full speed.

[brian]

I get it. Its not her fault, but I get the resentment.

Same. If you’re someone like A’ja Wilson or Breanna Stewart (and I’m using them generally - tmk neither of them has said anything about Clark) and you’re arguably the greatest woman basketballer on the planet but making $500,000 a year WITH endorsements if you’re lucky to have the media hype about Clark come in where she had a million in NIL money before even getting to the W has to be a little off-putting maybe.

But hopefully a rising tide lifts all boats.

[HaulCitgo]

No idea how $28 million is a steal for Nike. Lets check back on this in 3 years. Just dont see the WNBA going places.

[A_B]

No idea how $28 million is a steal for Nike. Lets check back on this in 3 years. Just dont see the WNBA going places.

It's an 8 year deal. AAV isn't that great, especially if she does turn out to be a star. If not, the next contract doesn't arrive and Nike loses. But you can probably make the argument they'll get their value in the early parts of the deal.

[Johnnie]

That's all fair.

I guess whenever I hear some oldhead chirping about shit like this it immediately snaps me back to my first base where I was derided and told 'I didn't have to be bribed to defend my country' because I got a $6k enlistment bonus.

I was further mocked as part of the 'PlayStation Generation' (because Millennial hadn't been coined yet) and told I was spoiled because they upped the quality of living in the dorms on base.

[brian]

No idea how $28 million is a steal for Nike. Lets check back on this in 3 years. Just dont see the WNBA going places.

Even before Clark attendance and ratings were way up. Las Vegas, for example, sold out every game this year and is moving several to T-Mobile (18,000 seats).

Most games Indiana plays are being moved to larger arenas in other WNBA markets. The WNBA was already on the up but this might really provide a bigger boost.

[A_B]

The algorithm listens

[HaulCitgo]

The Dream play in a glorified banquet hall... that happens to be in walking distance from the office so maybe. Was a good place for boxing but still basically a banquet hall.

ETA apparently the stadium is not the same as the conference center although it is in the same complex. Still 3,500 capacity

[Steve of phpBB]

The Bulls' attendance went from a consistent 6000-7000 per game to 18,000 per game when they drafted Jordan. I would not be surprised to see a big jump for a few of the WNBA teams, at least for this year. To me, the big unknown is whether the increased interest will be sustained.

[Nonlinear FC]

For many MANY years, the entire marketing approach of the Bullets was to advertise when Magic and Kareem or Bird or MJ or Dominque or whoever the marquee stars were coming to DC.

[duff]

No idea how $28 million is a steal for Nike. Lets check back on this in 3 years. Just dont see the WNBA going places.

Even before Clark attendance and ratings were way up. Las Vegas, for example, sold out every game this year and is moving several to T-Mobile (18,000 seats).

Most games Indiana plays are being moved to larger arenas in other WNBA markets. The WNBA was already on the up but this might really provide a bigger boost.

The Aces and the Mystic have moved their home games against the Fever to larger arenas at this point. There is an actual petition for Chicago to move their home game from Wintrust (10K) to United Center (21K). And ticket prices on the after market are steep.

The Fever even got a local TV deal for their games. First time that has happened for them.

[DSafetyGuy]

For many MANY years, the entire marketing approach of the Bullets was to advertise when Magic and Kareem or Bird or MJ or Dominque or whoever the marquee stars were coming to DC.

Clippers were the same. Sunday LA Times sports section in the mid-90's would have ads for a six- or eight-game ticket package built around star players from opposing teams.

Also, NBA player salaries are about half of the league's basketball-related income. In the WNBA, it is around 10%.

[govmentchedda]

For many MANY years, the entire marketing approach of the Bullets was to advertise when Magic and Kareem or Bird or MJ or Dominque or whoever the marquee stars were coming to DC.

Clippers were the same. Sunday LA Times sports section in the mid-90's would have ads for a six- or eight-game ticket package built around star players from opposing teams.

Also, NBA player salaries are about half of the league's basketball-related income. In the WNBA, it is around 10%.

That difference in those percentages is obviously shitty, but I wonder how much of that is due to fixed costs.

[brian]

For many MANY years, the entire marketing approach of the Bullets was to advertise when Magic and Kareem or Bird or MJ or Dominque or whoever the marquee stars were coming to DC.

Clippers were the same. Sunday LA Times sports section in the mid-90's would have ads for a six- or eight-game ticket package built around star players from opposing teams.

Also, NBA player salaries are about half of the league's basketball-related income. In the WNBA, it is around 10%.

That difference in those percentages is obviously shitty, but I wonder how much of that is due to fixed costs.

WNBA salary cap is (basically) $1.5M so that means salaries are $18M total so that would put basketball revenue at $180M which certainly sounds right but yeah that $162M isn’t going into the league’s or owners pockets I don’t think. Travel, team employees, other fixed costs, etc eat up most of it I imagine.

But if attendance booms like it appears to be set to that salary number should rise a lot in next CBA. And of course other stars like Wilson, Stewart etc should see their endorsement deals as well.