The WNBA completed its opening weekend and averaged 13,506 for its 10 games on Thursday and Saturday. A full listing follows. In Minneapolis, Pam Schmid wrote that the Lynx played their inaugural game before "very ecstatic" crowd of 12,122 (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/13). Also in Minneapolis, Dan Barreiro wrote that fans were "left standing and whistling and cheering" (STAR TRIBUNE, 6/13). In St. Paul, Tom Powers wrote, "Not spectacular basketball. But at least fundamental basketball. Considering the price of admission, with a low ticket price of $6, there weren't too many complaints" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/13). FOUR TEAMS ON THE WATCH: In Seattle, Terry Wood wrote that "one league source" said the four ownership groups in L.A., Charlotte, Sacramento and Utah "have been told their teams could be moved to another NBA city" if attendance doesn't improve (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/13). FAIR GAME: In UT, Doug Robinson wondered if "everyone can stop making extra nice" with the WNBA and "treating it with kid gloves." Robinson: "Can we start treating it like a real sports league and not a lovable kid sister? Can we start treating it like, oh, say, the men? .... It's time to see if the league can survive on its own merits." While league officials are keeping an eye on the Starzz franchise, Robinson wrote, "A women's basketball team in the middle of summer is a tough enough sell; a losing women's basketball team in the middle of summer is close to impossible" (DESERET NEWS, 6/12). Also in UT, Brad Rock wrote that one "nagging concern" about the Starzz is that "women's sports in Utah have never been a big draw." Also, the "final problem is obvious: the Starzz stink. Or stunk" (DESERET NEWS, 6/13). On ESPN's "The Sports Reporters," William Rhoden discussed the WNBA: "They're calling Chamique Holdsclaw the new face of the WNBA. The face is fine, but if the league wants to reach people it better find a heart and soul. ... The league would have you believe that the pillars of the women's game are Carol Blazejowski, Nancy Lieberman-Cline and Cheryl Miller. ... But where's Ruthie Harris? Where's Theresa Edwards? ... You mean to tell me that Harris and Edwards don't know enough, don't represent enough tradition to hold prominent positions? If there is not a prominent place for those two, the WNBA is not a place I want to be" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 6/13). WNBA HOME OPENERS: Announced attendance at the league's ten games played on Thursday and Saturday (THE DAILY): | TEAMS | DATE | ATTEN. | | TEAMS | DATE | ATTEN. |
| CHAR-WASH | 10-Jun | 20,674 | LA-CLEV | 12-Jun | 15,731 |
| CLEV-NY | 10-Jun | 12,411 | NY-CHAR | 12-Jun | 8,150 |
| HOU-ORL | 10-Jun | 15,422 | DET-MINN | 12-Jun | 12,122 |
| SAC-LA | 10-Jun | 8,262 | ORL-UTAH | 12-Jun | 14,783 |
| WASH-HOU | 12-Jun | 16,285 | PHOE-SAC | 12-Jun | 11,221 |
| TOTAL ATTENDANCE: | 135,061 | 10-GAME AVERAGE: | 13,506 |
