As the WNBA enters its fourth season in May, BUSINESS
WEEK's Lorraine Woellert writes that the NBA's "nurturing
and financial backing" of the WNBA has lead the league to
become "the best hope for women's team play in pro sports."
But "ticket sales and TV viewership are flat," and "though
most corporate sponsors are renewing their contracts, others
are bailing out, and newcomers are in short supply." In
addition, Woellert adds that the "biggest uncertainty" of
the WNBA "could be the threat of a lawsuit" from the now-
defunct ABL. Also, player salaries "could be the WNBA's
Achilles' heel," as many players are opting to play abroad,
where base salaries "can top six figures," compared to the
WNBA's cap of $80,000. While "many sports fans (read: men)
are unimpressed with the women's quality of play," Woellert
adds that "the level of play isn't likely to improve anytime
soon. With players leaving and the league expanding from 12
to 16 teams this season, there might not be enough talent to
fill the roster." But WNBA President Val Ackerman "points
out that it's imperative to strike a balance between
attracting talent and holding down overhead." Woellert
writes that Ackerman "seems to be doing just that," as "most
existing blue-chip sponsors remain loyal, with Sears,
L'Oreal, General Motors, Lady Foot Locker and others
returning for the 2000-2003 seasons" (BUSINESS WEEK, 5/1).
In Seattle, Meredith Bagley writes on the "growing unrest"
over player salaries, as the top four players selected in
today's draft "will receive salaries" of $52,500. WNBA Dir
of Media Relations Mark Pray, on possible contract holdouts
over the league's salary structure: "We have over 100
players re-signing this year with all the ABL veterans.
It's an ongoing process but we hope to resolve all contracts
by the start of training camps" (SEATTLE P-I, 4/25).
MESSY SITUATION? In Akron, Terry Pluto calls potential
holdouts "ridiculous." Pluto adds that WNBA players "have a
right to try and squeeze some extra bucks out of the league,
but this is not the NBA." Rockers GM Gayle Bibby-Creme:
"They (agents) seem to think there's all this hidden money.
But this is still a start-up business" (A.B. JOURNAL, 4/25).
