WNBA President Val Ackerman formally introduced Rebecca Lobo
and Sheryl Swoopes yesterday as the first players to sign with
the WNBA, the new women's pro basketball league to debut June 21,
1997. While dollar figures were not revealed, Ackerman said both
women signed two-year contracts with base salaries that are
considered "fair" and "modest" compared to overseas leagues.
Ackerman added all WNBA contracts will include base salaries,
incentive bonuses, housing supplements, per diems and appearance
fees based on participation in the league's national marketing
program. Although the WNBA is still in its "embryonic stage,"
the league has begun "formally recruiting" U.S. and international
players with "global aspirations." The WNBA will announce its
eight franchise designations October 30 and conduct a player
draft in April -- after the college basketball season (THE
DAILY). The league's new logo will also be revealed next week
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/23). New York, Chicago, Los Angeles,
Houston, Phoenix and Charlotte are considered "front-runners" for
franchises. Lobo is expected to play in New York and Swoopes in
Houston (Bruce Berlet, HARTFORD COURANT, 10/24). In Chicago, a
source "close to the NBA" says Chicago will be awarded a WNBA
team (Steve Tucker, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/24).
THE COMPETITION: Swoopes said she selected the WNBA over
rival ABL because of "everything the NBA did" for the U.S.
Women's National Team during its year-long world tour in
preparation for the Atlanta Olympics. Swoopes added that the NBA
"has always been successful" in its ventures and that televised
coverage of the league on NBC, ESPN and Lifetime also played a
role in her decision. Lobo, on her choice to play in the WNBA:
"When you think of basketball, you think of the NBA. ... You're
ensured it will be a success when the NBA is involved." Ackerman
admitted the ABL was off to a "very good start" in its first week
of play and that its success should serve as "terrific news for
women's basketball," with the WNBA benefiting "from the growing
momentum." Ackerman, on a possible WBNA vs. ABL championship
game: "Anything's possible. You never know." STATUS REPORT:
Ackerman said the process of signing league corporate sponsors
has "just recently begun," and that while "none have signed on
yet," interest has been "strong." Sponsorships will include ad
packages on the WNBA's national TV broadcasts, but ratings
guarantees will not be a part of any ad deals. Citing statistics
of women's college basketball TV viewership, Ackerman said the
WNBA expects to attract a "predominantly male" audience, with a
goal toward targeting "new fans, the kids demographic and women
with an interest in sports." Ackerman added the WNBA will be
"affordable, accessible and family oriented," with ticket prices
"certainly less expensive than an NBA game." Ackerman said while
attendance will "vary city-to-city," the league is targeting
8,000 fans per game -- a figure on par with the top women's
collegiate programs (THE DAILY).
