With the WNBA naming Bud Light among its first four
sponsors, Stefan Fatsis of the WALL STREET JOURNAL questions
whether a beer sponsorship will "hurt" women's basketball's
"squeaky-clean" image. Although beer companies have
"traditionally targeted a male audience," the WNBA's aim is
to sign sponsors that appeal to women, but treat the sport
no differently than a men's league. NBA Properties
President Rick Welts: "I don't think there should be a
penalty because women are on the court here." Women's
Sports Foundation President Donna Lopiano: "There should
never be a double standard for women's sports." But Hilary
Abramson, of alcohol industry watchdog group, the Marine
Institute, disagrees: "Is the only way to have a level
playing field to be part of this nonsense that alcohol is
part of a sportsmanlike lifestyle?" The first four sponsors
-- Spalding, Lee Jeans, Bud Light and Champion -- have
committed about $40M over three years to the WNBA (WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 12/20). A report in Salt Lake notes each
sponsor gets category exclusivity, with the lone exception
expected to be with sneakers, where the league expects to
sign up to three sponsors (AP/SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/20).
Welts, on WNBA's players: "The key women that are going to
play in the WNBA -- the Lisa Leslies, the Cheryl Swoops, the
Rebecca Lobos ... their stories are every bit as
interesting, every bit as attractive, to fans as Charles
Barkley or Michael Jordan" (CNBC, 12/19).
