The WNBA played its first ever All-Star Game last night
in front of a sellout crowd of 18,649 at MSG, and in N.Y.,
Brian Lewis writes that the players "put on a show that was
often [entertaining] and often out-of-control." Lewis:
"There was no NFL, NBA or baseball to dilute the attention.
The WNBA had the nation's spotlight all to itself" (N.Y.
POST, 7/15). In Salt Lake City, Lya Wodraska writes that
with "stars in every direction and some good basketball,"
the All-Star Game "was a rousing success on all accounts"
(S.L. TRIBUNE, 7/15). In N.Y., George Willis who writes
that last night's game was "more important to the league's
future than the present": "This was more about promotion
than pomp and circumstances, which is why those who played
in this inaugural game won't be fully appreciated until 15
or 20 years from now. ... WNBA players do as much promoting
as they do playing" (N.Y. POST, 7/15). In NJ, Tim Leonard
describes the game as "a celebration of perseverance as much
as women's basketball," but adds, "The players need to learn
... how to put on a show in an All-Star Game. It's supposed
to be about fun and entertaining fans" (RECORD, 7/15).
CROWD CONTROL: With WNBA's average attendance down 12%
from last year, WNBA President Val Ackerman said that some
teams "will be evaluated at the end of the season."
Ackerman: "I'm pretty comfortable, particularly in the case
of Utah, that the team is on the right track. ... I can tell
you we've done a pretty successful job in every city that
we're operating in" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/15). Ackerman, on
relocating teams with dwindling attendances: "We have I
guess what I call last-resort rights (to move a team) if
it's our sense that no matter how much we try, women's
basketball doesn't have perhaps as bright a future there as
it might in other places. We'd rather address problems
early than let them linger" (AZ REPUBLIC, 7/15). Ackerman
added that each team's status would be evaluated after this
season, and "there is no permanent right to a WNBA team."
Comets G Cynthia Cooper, on attendance: "You're going to
have up and down seasons, the key is not to get nervous
about it. ... You have to get the right players in the right
cities. It may just be a question of promotion" (AP, 7/15).
COACHING NUMBERS: In Philadelphia, John Smallwood
writes that while "on the surface, things are looking way up
for the WNBA," the league still "has some remaining
concerns." Noting the league's 7-5 male-to-female ratio of
head coaches, Smallwood writes that "a red flag should be
raised when the coaches in a women's league go from being
mostly women to mostly men in less than two years." But
Ackerman pointed out that the WNBA has "had many turn-downs
from top women's college coaches who are women." Ackerman:
"The combination of job security, starting over, income and
stature has stopped them" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/15).
FROM THE CHANCELLOR: In Seattle, Jayda Evans examined
whether the WNBA needs to sell sex appeal to succeed.
Comets coach Van Chancellor: "We're selling basketball, not
sex appeal. Everybody is acting like we're dying. We're
not dying" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/14).
BONUS: WNBA players all received "modest bonuses" for
being selected for the game. The game was televised in 125
countries in 20 languages (AP, 7/15)....Whitney Houston wore
an adidas warm-up suit during her singing of the National
Anthem at last night's game (THE DAILY).
