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Coaches Corner
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State of the WNBAThe WNBA has problems. What's wrong with the WNBA you ask? Where do I start, attendance is down, ratings are down and their games lack excitement. Let's take a look at what is going on with the WNBA. The name is the first problem. Women's National Basketball Association. Is there a MNBA or MNFL. No of course not. So why do you name your league women anything? The NBA has a wealth of marketing experience and talent that is a huge benefit to the WNBA. But they should have let the league establish it's own identity not be the NBA's little sister. That was something I really loved about the ABL. I can't stand that they have related nicknames. In Orlando you have the Magic and the Miracle, Charlotte has the Hornets and the Sting and Sacramento has the Kings and the Monarchs. And the NBA tries to say they don't relate the teams together, give me break! Am I that stupid? I also think they need to concentrate more on the local markets with some national exposure. Each city needs to be a success before the league can be a success. If I don't like my team, if I can't identify with them then why would I care about the rest of the league? There has been so much to say about a national TV contract. That does fans of the Portland Fire no good at all because they are never going to see their beloved team play on TV. You want to grow your local fan base? Get the team on TV in its market and bite the bullet on some of the revenues from TV to gain exposure. After you have gain exposure and have grown your fan base then you can start talking about making some extra money. The rest comes down to the way the game is played. The games are too low scoring; there are too many turnovers and not much excitement.
Since women hoopsters are better shooters than men, why are there so many missed shots? Easy there are not very many open shots. With the way defense is played in the wnba it is very hard for most of the players to create their own shoots. The solution to this is to change the way defense is played. First they need to open up the middle of the lane so players can drive the middle. That means eliminating the zone defense, limiting double teams and not allowing contact to the dribbler. Canceling the zone will clear up the middle of the lane and give opportunity to have those less effective defensive players to be beaten off the dribble. Limiting double teams prevents the wnba from becoming the same old boring NBA. Giving players more opportunity to create their own shots and providing a more exciting game to the average fan. Changing these few things will head the WNBA in a better direction than they are heading now. I really do hope they get it figured out before it's too late cause I know you ladies can BALL.
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