Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut
That is what most people try to do. Except ESPN and the media run campaigns calling those people, "backwards and misogynistic."
They know the product can't sell itself, so they resort to shaming tactics and jamming it everywhere. ESPN isn't running campaigns for the UFL saying you aren't a real football fan if you don't watch the Battlehawks-Stallions game.
|
That is the old guard mentality because they haven't had the transcendant talent like Caitlin Clark until now. I agree that the WNBA for many years was on life support and tried to shame you into watching. But that isn't the case anymore. They are marketing the game today because they know growth is coming largely because of Clark. But also because the NIL has created marketable college athletes. Other women's sports do sell themselves. Tennis sells itself with a marketable talent like Serena. US women's soccer very much sells itself. The WNBA just hasn't had the same conditions to thrive before, but they do now if they can get out of their own way.
That doesn't mean they're going to ever come remotely close to NBA ratings. But like the MLS did it has potential to grow quite a lot. To a popularity that is respectable. That problem isn't unique. It took decades for the MLS to grow their brand and it took bringing in guys like Messi and Beckham to give it a bit more of an edge.