The WNBA Finals tipped off last night with a victory for the Detroit Shock over the San Antonio Silver Stars (I had to look that one up), 77-69. The League is touting an increase in ticket sales and TV viewership this season, which is nice. But then I looked at the numbers. The average rating of a WNBA game this season was 0.32 on ABC and ESPN2. That is shockingly low. Embarrassingly low. The number of average viewers? Up to 413,000. Last season, ESPN averaged over 1.4 million views for its NBA games, and ABC’s lowest average rating was a couple years ago with a 2.2. Who’s responsible for these much lower ratings?
I’m just surprised the numbers are as low as they are for the WNBA. When I watch WNBA action, I feel I’m more sitting down to appreciate something than enjoy it. I can see the plays are more scripted, the teams more thoughtful in what they do. And I can appreciate that. But when I watch the NBA, I’m doing it to enjoy the game, to sit back and be entertained. I’m wondering if other people feel the same, and that’s why the ratings are at least 70% lower for the WNBA.
I was in a conversation a couple months ago about this. Whose responsibility is it to build the WNBA’s viewership? Do ESPN and the sports pages of newspapers have a responsibility to promote women’s basketball? Is it up to the fans to support the league as hardcore as possible? Is it up to the League?
on Oct 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 PM
The league has to get better officials. These women are out there playing their hearts out, and the officials are simply not up to par. No one wants to see a pre-determined outcome. Especially when the road team is almost guaranteed to get jobbed.
on Oct 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I love the wnba it is great i like to watch nba to but the woman have more of a skilled game yes thay dont run and slam the ball in the hoop for a dunk but as you saw this year with candice parker thay can dunk also i think it should be on more channells on tv not just abc or espn also with the wnba thay dont get the respect from the tv stations that the mens game do the other night i beleave it was the new york liberty against the detroit shock and because the baseball game was in a rain delay and then back on thay keep the baseball game on and moved the basketball game to espn classic witch not everyone get also the wnba plays games on nba tv witch alot of people dont get the wnba also needs to do more advertising when its nba season thay have comershals for all the games you really ever see comercials for the wnba these woman are amazing thay play there seasons here in the us for hardley any money and then go oversea to play were thay can make the big bucks these woman play year round everyone should go to or at least watch one wnba game and i think thay would have alot more respect and love for the womans game
on Oct 3rd, 2008 at 4:04 PM
The WNBA’s ratings actually went up on positive note. Even if it was just by 19%, this is better than it going down it ratings. I am sure that the NBA was just like the WNBA when it came to ratings when it was first televised. As for ESPN2 and ABC, that went up by 16%, and will probably continue to increase in years to come. The margin of increase might be small, but it’s better than nothing, and it could been worse if the ratings decreased. I am suprised that stats from the official site of the WNBA weren’t used to determine it, because it says all about ratings, attendance, viewership, and even revenue, but I will let others judge it by leaving the link.
http://www.wnba.com/2008numbers_080916.html
on Oct 3rd, 2008 at 4:52 PM
i don’t like women’s basketball. i don’t like it when girls play with the guys at the gym either. they are usually fundamentally sound when they play, but there’s this unspoken rule that you aren’t really allowed to guard a girl and they always get open looks. as far as WNBA, there isn’t that much publicity for it, even on sportscenter unless it just happened to air on espn .
on Oct 3rd, 2008 at 7:24 PM
To me, an obvious answer is: not enough people take about it! And when I reference “it,” I mean the actual game, not ratings. And I mean all the games, not just the ones during the playoffs or when crazy things happen (like that physical brawl that happened earlier this summer).
Honestly, I hate watching NBA games (with the exception of seeing the Celtics in the playoffs). Those can be some super boring games, in my opinion, especially when you see some players who either have egos or questionable passion for the game. I like watching the WNBA because I truly appreciate the athletes. They appeal to me; I appreciate their passion, competitive spirit, and they seem genuinely more team-oriented than men’s sports. The WNBA and its athletes deserve so much more respect, not just local TV news and national media, but also from sites like Outsports.com.
Did anyone see the recent game where Sophia Young hit that amazing buzzer beater shot? Which allowed San Antonio to play a game 3, which they went on to win, highlighted by an awesome performance by Becky Hammon? I have to admit that I was saddened to see no significant mention of those games and individuals performances here on Outsports or other sites I visit. Those were some of the most competitive, entertaining and exhilarating games to watch. There are plenty of fans. It’s just a matter of finding an audience and keeping them aware of what’s going on. I admit I sometimes forget about the WNBA because there are so few mentions. I just happen to come across a came on TV, or somehow think to go to espn.com and check out the women’s basketball page.
Again, who’s consistently talking about the WNBA, the games, and its players? Outsports, you certainly don’t highlight them in a significant way. It’s the playoffs! Where are mentions about these games on your main page??
And I have to say, it’s a decent thing to do, but I’m getting sick of reading about so-called courageous “out” yet uber-obscure athletes! And let’s not forget about stupid college wrestlers appearing on gay porn sites. Please. Boring. Cliche.
And let’s be clear that I’m annoyed to read your mention of the WNBA. You’re totally and entirely reducing the women’s game. It’s like I have to defend a reason why the league matters. Simply, not fair. Like ratings should justify a league’s legitimacy or popularity? Do I really need to compare a female athlete to a male athlete? I say shame on you for not talking up the league, and treating it fairly.
Why couldn’t you write about the actual game?