WNBA Launching New "Watch Me Work" Marketing Campaign Around 20th Season

The WNBA will begin marketing around its upcoming 20th anniversary season on Saturday with an ad campaign titled “Watch Me Work” that will tip off during the Spurs-Cavaliers primetime game on ABC. The initial 30-second spot features Mercury C Brittney Griner and G Diana Taurasi, Sparks F Candace Parker, Lynx G Maya Moore, Wings G Skylar Diggins and Storm G Sue Bird. The Marketing Arm is the agency of record on the campaign. More spots will be produced closer to the start of the WNBA season this summer. NBA CMO Pamela El said, “It is our 20th season and it is a special time for us and we wanted to come out early in the year and start talking about women’s basketball. We also have several opportunities to get great exposure by launching early” (John Lombardo, Staff Writer). Fever F Tamika Catchings said of the ad campaign, "It's finally something that characterizes us not necessarily as trying to be a fashion model or trying to be something else, but catching us in the gym, the workouts we do to prepare for the games. It spotlights those aspects" (AP, 1/27). Sun F Chiney Ogwumike added, "The campaign is the closest we've come to representing the authentic female basketball player and pro hooper." ESPNW.com's Jane McManus noted next Wednesday is National Girls & Women in Sports Day, and the campaign will "encourage kids and adults to post videos around #WatchMeWork." The WNBA already has seen "some clips of little kids shooting around" (ESPNW.com, 1/28).