Woman's College basketball in better shape than men's

[Irvin Snibbley]

I have come around on women's basketball (college) to a degree.I still cringe at missed layups and lack of athleticism but overall because the women players are around much longer I think it is easier to market their game.The men are 1 and done or soon going striaght from HS to the NBA.
Next year the UConn women will be loaded,Caitlin will be back for Iowa,the SEC with Carolina,LSU and Ole Miss,plus Texas will be brutal.A lot of great story lines.....Men's biggest story will be ...Can Cal keep his job?

 

[will110]

I have come around on women's basketball (college) to a degree.I still cringe at missed layups and lack of athleticism but overall because the women players are around much longer I think it is easier to market their game.The men are 1 and done or soon going striaght from HS to the NBA.
Next year the UConn women will be loaded,Caitlin will be back for Iowa,the SEC with Carolina,LSU and Ole Miss,plus Texas will be brutal.A lot of great story lines.....Men's biggest story will be ...Can Cal keep his job?

I wouldn't argue it's in better shape, but it's definitely a more traditional take on college basketball with 3 and 4 year superstar starters. The South Carolina women can't happen in the men's basketball because of the 1 and done and early entry to the NBA rule. Perhaps if the next NBA CBA eliminates the one and done and allows guys to enter right out of high school, that could change. Then players may have the 3 year requirement like football and baseball. That could only help the sport.

 

[Irvin Snibbley]

I haven't heard the 3 year rule as part of the new CBA,just doing away with 1 and done...If they went to 3 year commit then that would help fix the problem,but I can't see that happening...
I can only speak for myself but I have tuned out regular season men;s basketball other than Carolina games..I WOULD argue its in better shape as compared to the men.Women's game is on the upswing.Men not so much.The men will still draw more but it seems to be headed in the wrong direction.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I don't know that's in better shape, at least financially, which is all anyone really cares about (rightly or not). It will never come close to the men's game in terms of ratings and revenue. I'm not sure how many women's programs even turn a profit, if any.

Nevertheless, it is in better shape in terms of doing what college athletics is supposed to do: facilitate kids earning degrees. Of course, that's almost entirely due to the fact that there is little financial incentive to leaving college early for the WNBA, so I don't know how much of a credit it is to women's college basketball. Do you want to stay at USC and play in front of a packed house most nights or go to the WNBA and play in front of 1,500 fans? Not a hard decision.

 

[Deleted11512]

I wouldn't argue it's in better shape, but it's definitely a more traditional take on college basketball with 3 and 4 year superstar starters. The South Carolina women can't happen in the men's basketball because of the 1 and done and early entry to the NBA rule. Perhaps if the next NBA CBA eliminates the one and done and allows guys to enter right out of high school, that could change. Then players may have the 3 year requirement like football and baseball. That could only help the sport.

That's not all of it. Just the sheer difference in money is a contributing factor as well. Of course we don't know how Boston's NIL deals are written, but if it's tied to her time at USC, she's going to take a major pay cut going to the NBA. That's just not true in the men's game. Aja Wilson is the WNBA MVP. Her contract is $200k/yr. Jokic is the NBA MVP, making $29M/yr. You can do the math. I'm 100% confident Boston is doing better than Wilson right now. And, there's just more of an appetite for WBB at the collegiate level. The Los Angeles Sparks lead the WNBA in attendance with 5,600/gm. USC averaged over 13k/gm. So you're essentially making a decision to take a pay cut and play on a smaller stage. I would not be surprised at all if AB came back for her covid year.

 

[18IsTheMan]

That's not all of it. Just the sheer difference in money is a contributing factor as well. Of course we don't know how Boston's NIL deals are written, but if it's tied to her time at USC, she's going to take a major pay cut going to the NBA. That's just not true in the men's game. Aja Wilson is the WNBA MVP. Her contract is $200k/yr. Jokic is the NBA MVP, making $29M/yr. You can do the math. I'm 100% confident Boston is doing better than Wilson right now. And, there's just more of an appetite for WBB at the collegiate level. The Los Angeles Sparks lead the WNBA in attendance with 5,600/gm. USC averaged over 13k/gm. So you're essentially making a decision to take a pay cut and play on a smaller stage. I would not be surprised at all if AB came back for her covid year.

There is a girl in my church who plays high school basketball and she is rabid about women's college basketball, particularly USC as we're the cream of the crop right now. She doesn't give a hoot about the WNBA. I know several teen/college age girls who are very into sports, particularly basketball, and not one cares about the WNBA. I can honestly say, I've never even encountered a WNBA fan. I've never seen any fans wearing WNBA gear. Living in the DC suburbs, I've never come across a single fan of the Mystics (had to Google that). Not one. The WNBA is just not interesting or exciting, even to people who are into women's basketball. The college game is MUCH more interesting to them.

 

[Irvin Snibbley]

I was mainly talking about a comparative basis based on historical trends and where the game is today...Women's basketball will never outdraw or outearn the men but the trajectory on the women's side is better.
The one thing could I could see popping up as a major issue on the women's side in the next few years would be the transgender thing.Hasn't hit basketball yet but I don't think they would be immune.

 

[ChairForceCock]

I think a lot of your reasoning is because you watch more Women's College Basketball now. We have a great Women's team, which leads to more interest by watching, listening, educating, and developing a greater perspective of it. You could also look at the one and done as a balancing of men's basketball instead of thinking of it negatively. Duke, Kentucky, UNC and others have already alluded to how difficult it is to create chemistry with the team on the court when you have young guys who are set to leave the day they hit campus. Big reason you see these guys losing more. Add to that NIL and if not jumping for the NBA, they jump at an NIL deal in the portal. Maybe a good reason you didn't see any 1 seeds in the final 8.

 

[ChairForceCock]

That's not all of it. Just the sheer difference in money is a contributing factor as well. Of course we don't know how Boston's NIL deals are written, but if it's tied to her time at USC, she's going to take a major pay cut going to the NBA. That's just not true in the men's game. Aja Wilson is the WNBA MVP. Her contract is $200k/yr. Jokic is the NBA MVP, making $29M/yr. You can do the math. I'm 100% confident Boston is doing better than Wilson right now. And, there's just more of an appetite for WBB at the collegiate level. The Los Angeles Sparks lead the WNBA in attendance with 5,600/gm. USC averaged over 13k/gm. So you're essentially making a decision to take a pay cut and play on a smaller stage. I would not be surprised at all if AB came back for her covid year.

Big reason the WNBA players head overseas in the off season to play with other countries. They make 5 times the amount of money overseas compared to the WNBA. Crazy when you have to go to a communist country to be paid like capitalists.

WNBA is even cracking down on that because they will begin fining and ruling players ineligible who don't report the first day of training. Many overseas leagues are not done before the WNBA begins their first day of training.

 

[Thunderstick]

...if not jumping for the NBA, they jump at an NIL deal in the portal. Maybe a good reason you didn't see any 1 seeds in the final 8.

Never thought of it in this light. Makes perfect sense!

 

[uscphan]

That's not all of it. Just the sheer difference in money is a contributing factor as well. Of course we don't know how Boston's NIL deals are written, but if it's tied to her time at USC, she's going to take a major pay cut going to the NBA. That's just not true in the men's game. Aja Wilson is the WNBA MVP. Her contract is $200k/yr. Jokic is the NBA MVP, making $29M/yr. You can do the math. I'm 100% confident Boston is doing better than Wilson right now. And, there's just more of an appetite for WBB at the collegiate level. The Los Angeles Sparks lead the WNBA in attendance with 5,600/gm. USC averaged over 13k/gm. So you're essentially making a decision to take a pay cut and play on a smaller stage. I would not be surprised at all if AB came back for her covid year.

You are not factoring in Wilson’s other revenue streams. She can play overseas, which by all accounts is much more lucrative. And she has national endorsement deals with Ruffles and AT&T that I’m aware of. I’m certain there are others and I bet lots of local to Las Vegas deals. I highly doubt Boston earns more than Wilson.

 

[atl-cock]

There is a girl in my church who plays high school basketball and she is rabid about women's college basketball, particularly USC as we're the cream of the crop right now. She doesn't give a hoot about the WNBA. I know several teen/college age girls who are very into sports, particularly basketball, and not one cares about the WNBA. I can honestly say, I've never even encountered a WNBA fan. I've never seen any fans wearing WNBA gear. Living in the DC suburbs, I've never come across a single fan of the Mystics (had to Google that). Not one. The WNBA is just not interesting or exciting, even to people who are into women's basketball. The college game is MUCH more interesting to them.

Until the 1950s the same could be said for college vs professional football.

 

[atl-cock]

I was mainly talking about a comparative basis based on historical trends and where the game is today...Women's basketball will never outdraw or outearn the men but the trajectory on the women's side is better.
The one thing could I could see popping up as a major issue on the women's side in the next few years would be the transgender thing.Hasn't hit basketball yet but I don't think they would be immune.

I vote for separate transgender leagues.

 

[TeeCock]

I don't know that's in better shape, at least financially, which is all anyone really cares about (rightly or not). It will never come close to the men's game in terms of ratings and revenue. I'm not sure how many women's programs even turn a profit, if any.

Nevertheless, it is in better shape in terms of doing what college athletics is supposed to do: facilitate kids earning degrees. Of course, that's almost entirely due to the fact that there is little financial incentive to leaving college early for the WNBA, so I don't know how much of a credit it is to women's college basketball. Do you want to stay at USC and play in front of a packed house most nights or go to the WNBA and play in front of 1,500 fans? Not a hard decision.

Plus, great players will get as much from nil as salary in WNBA

 

[18IsTheMan]

Until the 1950s the same could be said for college vs professional football.

Possibly. Totally different eras though, so an apples to oranges comparison.

 

[atl-cock]

Possibly. Totally different eras though, so an apples to oranges comparison.

The fruit down the road is debatable (possibly). I do think it's a fair comparison between the NFL and collegiate games of 1936 to today's NCAA and WNBA. Little interest in the pro game; most of the interest is collegiate.

 

[GoCocksFight2021]

Big reason the WNBA players head overseas in the off season to play with other countries. They make 5 times the amount of money overseas compared to the WNBA. Crazy when you have to go to a communist country to be paid like capitalists.

WNBA is even cracking down on that because they will begin fining and ruling players ineligible who don't report the first day of training. Many overseas leagues are not done before the WNBA begins their first day of training.

There is nothing to stop them from being paid like capitalists here, except the lack of fans willing to pay to watch them. Commie countries have always had a thing for manly women in sports. Some of the soviet women olympic competitors in the 80s were so jacked up they had to wear a jock strap. Probably stood up to pee.

 

[KingWard]

Two observations: college WBB is way better off than college MBB in terms of team continuity by reason of the age limit on being drafted. In terms of roster management, the portal has hurt them both, but it's easier to keep a team together in WBB.

College WBB is much better off than the WNBA. Not only is the WNBA money not sufficient for the top pro league, but the college game is simply more popular and visible.

Yes, there is some awkwardness - particularly in the paint when traffic is heavy, but the overall college WBB product has made great strides and is in a better place than its pro counterpart - in my opinion.

 

[Deleted11512]

If they wanted to make it more watchable they’d lower the goals to 9 ft.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Saw a blurb that Boston has a $104k NIL valuation. That's higher than the WNBA average salary from 2022. The highest paid WNBA player in 2023 makes $252k. WNBA minimum salary is just $60k.

OTOH, NBA rookie minimum salary is $953k. Lowest paid rookie in NBA makes nearly 4x as much as the top paid player in WNBA.

No wonder the girls stay in college and the boys go pro.

 

[Deleted11512]

Yep. And I don't know how much stock to put into those valuations. I would imagine her deal with UA is pretty good on it's own.

 

[atl-cock]

If they wanted to make it more watchable they’d lower the goals to 9 ft.

I remember years ago reading something about Wake and Dook men playing an exhibition trial game with 12 ft baskets.......