NBA Commissioner David Stern was asked about the WNBA
during halftime of Game Six by NBC's Hannah Storm. Stern:
"We think the sponsors accept it, we know that fans will,
and we're trying to get maybe 4,500 people a night in our
initial season to test this game, and we know they're going
to love it and come back for lots more." Stern added that
WNBA President Val Ackerman is "planning for the next wave
of expansion because there are many more teams, NBA teams,
that would like expansion franchises than we have available
at the present time" ("NBA on NBC," 6/13).
SEASON PREVIEWS: In Phoenix, the WNBA was profiled by
Jeff Metcalfe of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Metcalfe:
"[P]reseason WNBA ticket sales suggest that the league's
marketing advantage is working, and that the bigger-market
league will blast out of the chute with much larger crowds
than the ABL's per-game average of 3,500" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC,
6/15). The AP profiled the league, writing it "enters a
crowded sports market where male athletes rule and another
new women's basketball venture, [ABL], is fighting for fans.
So, while the WNBA claims, 'We got next!' how long can it
hold the court?" (AP/Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/15).
Sunday's N.Y. DAILY NEWS' "End Zone" section examined the
WNBA, which included a team-by-team breakdown and a Q&A with
WNBA President Val Ackerman. Ackerman: "We know we have to
do well at the gate and get the 4,000 we hope to have" (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 6/15). The WNBA's PR blitz includes Ruthie
Bolton-Holifield on CBS' "Late Show" with David Letterman on
Wednesday, Rebecca Lobo and Ackerman on NBC's "Today" on
Thursday and Lisa Leslie on NBC's "Tonight Show" on June 24
(Cliff Mehrtens, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/15).
WNBA SECOND SHOTS: The Sacramento Monarchs have sold
"more than" 6,000 tickets for their home opener, June 23
(SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/15)....The Phoenix Mercury have sold a
"WNBA-high" 3,700 season tickets (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/15).
Also in Phoenix, 9,677 attended the L.A. Sparks-Mercury
exhibition on Saturday. Columnist Bob Cohn: "If this was a
preview of coming attractions, we might have a hit on our
hands" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/15).....A "near capacity" crowd
of 4,004 watched the Houston Comets-Charlotte Sting
exhibition at Fort Mill, SC, with free admission (CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER, 6/13)....The efforts of the Sparks' PR/Marketing
staff were profiled in Sunday's Life & Style section of the
L.A. TIMES by Adrienne Johnson. Of a staff of 17, 12
positions are held by women. Sparks President Johnny Buss:
"I interviewed just about half male, half female. ... It
just turned out that females that I interviewed knew more
about women's basketball" (L.A. TIMES, 6/15).
STERN ON NBC: Stern was asked on NBC about fining
Dennis Rodman $50,000 for remarks he made about Mormons:
"It's a privilege to play in the NBA, to be associated with
us, it's not a right, and you don't have the right to say
anything you want to say" ("NBA on NBC," 6/13).
