[QUOTE=asujbl;19454656]It was brutal to watch - and not because of her

I watched the first half for gambling purposes and I couldn't take it anymore

The WNBA is simply not a good product. I hope it becomes one... but it doesn't have the charm of College. I absolutely get why people got hooked on the Women's NCAA tournament, individual players, team storylines, etc... it's compelling... and I think it will continue to be going forward

The WNBA simply doesn't have it. I don't care who the players are[/QUOTE]

And the NCAA is forced down our throats.

I watched most of the game last night which is more WNBA than I have ever watched in my life.

Caitlin was definitely trying to do too much and forced a lot things leading to turnovers. The team around her is not very good.

She is not going to be a dominant force in her first year (like Wemby). She may develop into that over time as she improves, learns how to play against grown women.

You could tell the game was much more physical than she was used to in college. She looked like Luka asking for fouls several times.

I think she will have a few splash games this year, but will people still be paying attention at that point? I don't know.

[QUOTE=oldgoldy97;19454699]And the NCAA is forced down our throats.[/QUOTE]

Any basketball wold be hard to watch after watching the Timberwolves last night.

[QUOTE=oldgoldy97;19454699]And the NCAA is forced down our throats.[/QUOTE]

No one makes you watch it.

TBH I don’t think it’s meant to be consumed highly by men. I think once women start to support in the numbers that’s possible, you will start to see a better product. Only because there will be more input, suggestions and money. Right now it really is a type of infancy in regards to popularity.

Terrible first half, good second half. The WNBA is a notoriously difficult step up--see Ionescu and Kelsey Plum early year stats. There'll be some bumps but fully expect the second half last night to be more the norm for her going forward.

As someone who has been watching a lot of women’s college basketball and likes watching Caitlin Clark, I couldn’t agree more.

The WNBA game is an inferior product compared to women’s college basketball right now.

1. The WNBA is way too physical and boring. The WNBA might pride itself on being a faster and more physical league than NCAA, but it’s boring. I don’t want to watch lots of contact and low scores. I don’t want to watch sloppy post ups with never ending offensive rebounds.

2. All of these WNBA players can’t wait to show they are better than Caitlin Clark and are giving her full court press and double teaming her. Awesome - that’s also boring. I don’t want to watch Adonai defend Caitlin Clark likes it’s game 7 of the NBA Finals, when it’s just the first game of the season. Cool - you shut down a rookie. It’s boring product.

3. There’s way too much isolation play and ball hogging. Didn’t they get the memo that the early 2000’s are over?

4. The Fever coach is not good. She doesn’t have a handle on who should be in the starting lineup or who should be the focal point of the offense. See point 3. At least Iowa had a plan and a sense of team identity. Where are the cutters? Where is the motion?

5. Make the quarters and the game match the NBA length. These 40 minute games are too short. No one is going to be excited about 20 point high scorers. If you want to compete for eyeballs, you are doing yourself a serious disservice by having a game that is 20% shorter and stats that are 20% less impressive. You need something to counterbalance the all defense feel.

6. This is a golden opportunity and you are blowing it. All the league can see is that the viewing is higher and its ticket sales are higher. They are ignorant of the fact that their product sucks right now but people are giving it a try anyway.

7. Even as a Caitlin Clark fan, there is no way I’m gonna keep watching games where the style of play is this ugly.

8. Caitlin needs to throw harder and faster passes, but half the people on her team have butter fingers and can’t finish anyway. She also needs to improve her handle. Defenders used to pick her pocket bringing it up the floor in college and they are going to do it more in the pros.

9. Why was there so much trash talking and crowing in game 1 of the season? Like who cares? I’m not super into trash talking in general but for game 1 of the WNBA season, maybe tone it down a little bit?

10. Does the Connecticut Sun know they have the dumbest uniforms I have ever seen? It doesn’t have Connecticut or Sun on the front of the jerseys? See point 9. Do you know how stupid you look crowing and trash talking when you are beating on the worst team in the league last year? There’s a reason they had the number 1 pick.

11. The league doesn’t have a lot of self awareness. At least the commercials know what they are selling. The WNBA has no idea what it is selling.




[QUOTE=asujbl;19454656]It was brutal to watch - and not because of her

I watched the first half for gambling purposes and I couldn't take it anymore

The WNBA is simply not a good product. I hope it becomes one... but it doesn't have the charm of College. I absolutely get why people got hooked on the Women's NCAA tournament, individual players, team storylines, etc... it's compelling... and I think it will continue to be going forward

The WNBA simply doesn't have it. I don't care who the players are[/QUOTE]

Oh wait, so the jerseys that the Connecticut Sun were wearing yesterday had “Keesusk” on the front of the jerseys. Which I assumed was a sponsor. But no, Keesusk is a word in the Mohegan language that means “Sun.” If no one in the audience gets it, it’s a stupid thing to put on a jersey. Srsly. Mohegan?

[QUOTE=WaiverWire;19455115]
3. There’s way too much isolation play and ball hogging. Didn’t they get the memo that the early 2000’s are over?

4. The Fever coach is not good. She doesn’t have a handle on who should be in the starting lineup or who should be the focal point of the offense. See point 3. At least Iowa had a plan and a sense of team identity. Where are the cutters? Where is the motion?
[/QUOTE]

I kept thinking to myself, do they ever runs sets or plays. The Fever's entire offensive game plan seemed to be some archaic form of isolation, street ball, with the occasional half-assed pick and roll where the picker bailed way too early.

[QUOTE=spurs50fan;19454879]TBH I don’t think it’s meant to be consumed highly by men. I think once women start to support in the numbers that’s possible, you will start to see a better product. Only because there will be more input, suggestions and money. Right now it really is a type of infancy in regards to popularity.[/QUOTE]


but....realistically will they? after this initial hype with Clark and a couple others will girls and women still choose to spend their money on tickets, merchandise, other WNBA related things?

[QUOTE=oldgoldy97;19454699]And the NCAA is forced down our throats.[/QUOTE]


how is it forced down people's throats? Anyone can choose to watch it or choose to watch a show showing the highlights just like any other sport or simply not pay attention to it. Nothing 'forced'

[QUOTE=peterose4hof;19455261]I kept thinking to myself, do they ever runs sets or plays. The Fever's entire offensive game plan seemed to be some archaic form of isolation, street ball, with the occasional half-assed pick and roll where the picker bailed way too early.[/QUOTE]

Totally agree. Where are the set plays? Can someone borrow Geno’s playbook from UConn? That guy knows how to run some plays. The street ball analogy is apt. I have seen more cohesion in pickup basketball games.

[QUOTE=duwal;19455265]but....realistically will they? after this initial hype with Clark and a couple others will girls and women still choose to spend their money on tickets, merchandise, other WNBA related things?[/QUOTE]

The WNBA thinks it has finally arrived. In reality, it is getting an audition. I’m not completely out on the WNBA yet. But like, where are the consultants telling them how to make this a good product? It’s lil they were born on third base with this Caitlin Clark stuff, but think they have hit a triple. The overflow popularity from women’s college hoops won’t continue unless you plan this better.

More important- When does 2024 WNBA Prizm come out?

[QUOTE=asujbl;19454656]
The WNBA is simply not a good product. [B]I hope it becomes one[/B]... but it doesn't have the charm of College. I absolutely get why people got hooked on the Women's NCAA tournament, individual players, team storylines, etc... it's compelling... and I think it will continue to be going forward
[/QUOTE]

It won't.

I went through this a couple years ago when Sabrina Ionescu entered the WNBA. I was hyped.. ready to watch her play. I think I made it through a quarter and a half before I realized that the product on the court is not a fun style to watch.

They try some of the fancy moves you see in the NBA but it's at 1/3rd the speed and a much more awkward style. It just doesn't look the same.

I saw some Sky highlights from last night. I don't know if they were 3 bad highlights or if it's the norm. Angel Reese took 3 shots and none were normal jump shots. She just shot the ball with an underhanded shot. Kinda like a kid trying to shoot. She even had a breakaway from a steal I think and shot the same underhanded shot when she got close to the hoop. All shots went in.

Overall...the WNBA is not a great on court product. There is a reason it's been around for 27 years and has yet to be popular.

[QUOTE=WaiverWire;19455369]The WNBA thinks it has finally arrived. In reality, it is getting an audition. I’m not completely out on the WNBA yet. But like, where are the consultants telling them how to make this a good product? It’s lil they were born on third base with this Caitlin Clark stuff, but think they have hit a triple. The overflow popularity from women’s college hoops won’t continue unless you plan this better.[/QUOTE]


And they have the best draft class they could ever hope for in addition to Caitlin that continues to trend and be talked about throughout social media. The Skims campaign is pitch perfect as well. Viewership, ticket sales, all at a high. Like you said, it’s an audition and the spotlight is firmly on them. This is the best shot they’ll ever have, there won’t be another Caitlin down the pipeline to move the needle this much.

[QUOTE=Ferg1945;19456844]It won't.

I went through this a couple years ago when Sabrina Ionescu entered the WNBA. I was hyped.. ready to watch her play. I think I made it through a quarter and a half before I realized that the product on the court is not a fun style to watch.

They try some of the fancy moves you see in the NBA but it's at 1/3rd the speed and a much more awkward style. It just doesn't look the same.

I saw some Sky highlights from last night. I don't know if they were 3 bad highlights or if it's the norm. Angel Reese took 3 shots and none were normal jump shots. She just shot the ball with an underhanded shot. Kinda like a kid trying to shoot. She even had a breakaway from a steal I think and shot the same underhanded shot when she got close to the hoop. All shots went in.

Overall...the WNBA is not a great on court product. There is a reason it's been around for 27 years and has yet to be popular.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. Women's college competes directly with Men's college. The women's programs have players that generally stick around for 4 years. They have team continuity and the best players in that age range. Men's college basketball has no continuity and a fraction of the available talent. Many the best young men's players choose to skip college and play in Ignite or Overtime Elite or go overseas and play professionally until eligible for the draft and the best players that go to college leave after a year. WNBA season goes against the NBA play offs, MLB and the start of NBA and NFL seasons. The NBA has the best men's players in the world so they don't have the problem of talent that men's college has now. Nobody is going to watch the WNBA vs NBA. The WNBA hasn't been able to capture female basketball fans in 27 years because of that. The novelty of Clark will wear off fast and then the WNBA will be the same WNBA it's always been.

[QUOTE=blackandgold;19455600]More important- When does 2024 WNBA Prizm come out?[/QUOTE]

Probably Oct/Nov 2024

[QUOTE=rms13;19457395]Nobody is going to watch the WNBA vs NBA. [/QUOTE]

I watch the wnba and don’t watch the nba.

I think it’s funny that people can watch half a basketball game between two mediocre teams and declare the entire league unwatchable/unmarketable. I’ve watched the Aces go from drawing several hundred fans to drawing 7-8 thousand and selling out important games. They play a good style of basketball, play with heart and compete as tough as any team I’ve ever watched. I used to love the NBA but the current style just doesn’t fit my taste. The WNBA and particularly the Aces play a style that I enjoy. Sure they aren’t as athletic as the men but it’s still good basketball. It also helps that since the league is less popular I can afford to go to the games, season tickets are very affordable, at least in Vegas. I hope you guys give the league a chance, maybe check out when the Aces play the Liberty. Those are the two best teams and should showcase the league at its best.

Honest question, not trying to stir things up.

Is the coaching in the NCAA better than the coaching in the WNBA?

That would be quite the difference from the Men's game.

[QUOTE=peterose4hof;19457638]Honest question, not trying to stir things up.

Is the coaching in the NCAA better than the coaching in the WNBA?

That would be quite the difference from the Men's game.[/QUOTE]

I think the top 2-3 coaches in the WNBA are excellent. I think the top few coaches in NCAAW are also excellent. But I think there is a significant drop off in both leagues after those top few teams and coaches.

WNBA is going to have to intervene if this is how it’s going to go. They’re going to squander their one chance at being relevant.

[url]https://www.outkick.com/sports/indiana-fever-caitlin-clark-new-york-liberty-social-media-reaction[/url]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=Hail2TheVictors;19418443]Jemele Hill.

One of the absolute worst "Media" people in sports.[/QUOTE]

Not just her. The AP just ran an article a couple of days ago about why the Clark phenomenon is racist. Mostly coming from Aja's comments. Apparently it she wasn't white she wouldn't be as huge comparing it to Larry Bird.

[url]https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-race-women-college-basketball-b277e81e47c8d9ecc6554720b1a35065[/url]

[QUOTE=mmier118;19457472]I watch the wnba and don’t watch the nba.

I think it’s funny that people can watch half a basketball game between two mediocre teams and declare the entire league unwatchable/unmarketable. I’ve watched the Aces go from drawing several hundred fans to drawing 7-8 thousand and selling out important games. They play a good style of basketball, play with heart and compete as tough as any team I’ve ever watched. I used to love the NBA but the current style just doesn’t fit my taste. The WNBA and particularly the Aces play a style that I enjoy. Sure they aren’t as athletic as the men but it’s still good basketball. It also helps that since the league is less popular I can afford to go to the games, season tickets are very affordable, at least in Vegas. I hope you guys give the league a chance, maybe check out when the Aces play the Liberty. Those are the two best teams and should showcase the league at its best.[/QUOTE]

I'd say the current style of play in the NBA since the mid season secret rules change is now the best style it's been in decades. As soon as they stopped calling all the dumb fouls and started letting guys play more physical it's been completely different. The play offs are the most entertaining I've watched in years and the NBA has the greatest concentration of talent since the late 80s.