The WNBA begins its 19th season this weekend as it attempts to "move past an off-season filled with controversy," according to Seth Berkman of the N.Y. TIMES. The league "has not had much scandal" in its history, but over the course of a few months, the WNBA was "forced to navigate backlash and placate a loyal fan base that expects it to be a leader in women’s issues." Mercury C Brittney Griner was suspended for seven games following a domestic dispute with her now-wife, Shock F Glory Johnson-Griner, and "further damaging the league’s public image" was the Liberty's move to hire Isiah Thomas as team president "with an ownership stake." The Thomas move was "questioned by fans, other owners and coaches." Univ. of Minnesota Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women In Sport Dir Mary Jo Kane said that the past few months "could mark the WNBA's entry into 'the world of big-time sports.'" Kane: "You get scandal along with success." She did note that the arrests of Griner and Johnson-Griner "were isolated incidents." She added, “Men’s sports should be so lucky if they had this kind of problem." Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer said that "even bad publicity could bring in more viewers." Berkman reports as it "investigated the details" of the Griner situation, the WNBA over the course of three weeks "consulted with domestic violence experts and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver." SASHA Center Exec Dir Kalimah Johnson, who worked with WNBA President Laurel Richie during her investigation, "will conduct training sessions with teams later in the season" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/5). Meanwhile, ESPN.com noted Johnson-Griner "will miss the WNBA season after announcing Thursday on Instagram that she is pregnant." Johnson-Griner also was suspended seven games for the domestic dispute, and she indicated last week that she was "planning to appeal" that. Her suspension now "wouldn't start until next season" (ESPN.com, 6/4).
NOT GOING ANYWHERE: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said after 19 seasons, the “quality of the basketball on the floor has gotten much better" in the WNBA. But he added, "Like any business, at the end of the day it needs to be feasible economically.” He said the league “loses money, some teams make money,” but ESPN has renewed to broadcast their games with a financial “increase." Silver: "We’re still working hard at it, and we’re looking to grow popularity in the game." He added, "We have absolutely no thoughts of shutting it down” (“Francesa,” WFAN-AM, 6/2).
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? In a special to the N.Y. TIMES, Austin American-Statesman staff reporter Asher Price wrote the WNBA lowering the height of the rims would be "one easy way to inject excitement into the sport and get these athletes more of the exposure they deserve." Former WNBA Commissioner and current Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman "is among those who have made the case for a lower rim." She indicated that "bringing the hoop down from 10 feet, by at least half a foot, would mean fewer missed layups and a more fluid game" and added that "her one regret as WNBA president was never experimenting with a lower rim." Price noted lowering the rims "will lead to more of what is arguably the single most exciting maneuver in all sports: the dunk" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/3).
