The best players in the WNBA are dropping like flies. They are suffering from injury after injury because, while the WNBA season is only a few months long, most of the players play internationally. They play internationally partly because of the discrimination that exists in the league. If I remember correctly from some research I did a little while ago, the lowest paid NBA player makes more than the best highest WNBA player. By about 10 times. So women ball players play year round, partly because they make better money overseas. Probably also partly because the WNBA season is so short and these women love this game. They have to. The amount of resistance they face in our society for being strong females is insane.
Playing overseas means the WNBA players get NO time off. Their bodies get no down time to recoup and heal. They are constantly pushing themsevles beyond that of what any normal human being does with their body. And far past what any male player is forced to do.
Female ball players are insanely committed, proving once again that women have to work harder and be better in order to be seen as still inferior. And proving once again how passionate they are that they will fight like hell until eventually we get through this moment in time. And things are better than they used to be. I grew up without professional women's basketball. And the quality of play in the last 10 years has improved exponentially.
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Now I love a good rant as much as anyone - as my own blogging can attest - but there are times when a rant has to be rooted in some sort of reality.
"Best players are dropping like flies." Well, I love me some LJ, but she's somewhat snake bit -- and has a history of not taking care of her body. Lisa is "of an age," as is Yo. (Don't tell Katie, but so is she)
Lawson has been off and on all season, Pierson got herself into trouble because, some may argue, she hooks arms in a way that was destined to cause problems. JMac's bad back (or whatever is bothering her) has been a somewhat chronic thang.As, it would seem, is Big Syl's tendency to be on and off the bench... Cheryl is on her way back from an ACL -- but ACLs are just a *#*$&@) part of women's sports until a whole ton of time and money are put into research...as Augustus can attest to.
Anyways -- injuries are part of the game -- ask the boys. And, if you want to say "they play year 'round" is the reason, ask yourself -- how many games IS year round? Some may play 2 a week - some less... So, quick math: WNBA reg season May-Sept - 34 games.
Let's say a player jumps right in to European season -- 7 months. Avg 4 weeks a month (pulls out a calculator) - that's 28 weeks x 2 = 56 games or so. Add that to the W season: 90 over the course of a year.
Compare that to the NBA with its 82 regular season games... in 6 months. And no, I not including pre-season games or any post season games (which, in the NBA are ridiculous.)
So -- which career is hardest on a body?
As for "the lowest paid NBA player makes more than the best highest WNBA player. By about 10 times." That comparison has about as much validity as comparing the salary of a Meryl Streep/Tom Cruise/Will Ferrell type to a teaching artist working in public schools (and I know what I'm speaking about! lol). They are two totally different enterprises. They work on totally different business models.
Do you know what the attendance is NBA v WNBA. What the tv ratings are? What the advert. revenues are? I know all about the whys and wherefores about the disparity but, while those reasons can engender interesting discussion and action, you cannot ignore the simplest of facts: The WNBA is a business and has to work within its budget. There is no Title IX ensuring the existence of the league. Right now, the league pays the salaries the revenue support (and, as a teaching artist, I wouldn't mind making what a rookie makes for 3.5 months of work.)
As for "Female ball players are insanely committed, proving once again that women have to work harder and be better in order to be seen as still inferior."
I have no doubt female players are committed. But 1) they could do something else (you want commitment, talk to me about the AAU players from 1926 to the late 70s!) and
2) how are you measuring their "success"? I doubt if the league will be the economic juggernaut the NBA is (and it's history is MIGHTY interesting in terms of growth curve. not to mention the challenges it -- and other male pro leagues -- is facing). Does that mean people - male, female, fans, haters, feminist, misogynist will look at the W as inferior?
There are so many different ways to measure success and quality - don't get caught in the money trap.
Finally - no sh*t the game has improved exponentially. We've reaped the benefits for Title IX in a big way and have many many more miles to go before equal opportunity is just that. It takes my breath away, thinking about how far these women have come and how far the next generations will soar.
Women's basketball -- and the hs, college and pro level is a torchbearer/benchmark for/of so many important ideals in the United States. It deserves our support -- both politically and monetarily.
So, wherever you're living, I hope you are a season subscriber to a local college or W team. And if you can't spare the time, give that subscription away to some future fans!
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