Despite the addition of top players from the defunct
ABL and deeper rosters, the WNBA's average attendance has
decreased by 12%, from 10,821 last year to 9,536 this
season, according to Jerry Brewer of the N.Y. TIMES, who
writes that the novelty of the league "is beginning to
chip." But the WNBA's first annual All-Star Game tomorrow
night at MSG is a sellout, and league execs say that they
"are not panicking." WNBA President Val Ackerman: "Now
we're at the stage where we're really testing our audience
and separating the fans who came to watch us because we were
new from the fans who really care about the sport." Of the
10 teams that played last year, only the Monarchs have had
an increase in attendance. Though crowds do tend to
increase during the second half of the season, league
officials "seem puzzled" about the drop. Ackerman said that
the extended NBA season "took some of the luster off the
start" of the WNBA season, but added that the WWC "did not
directly compete with" the league for fans. Ackerman noted
the league's attendance goal of 10,000 fans per game is
"clearly within reach this summer." The Bonham Group's Dean
Bonham: "The flat attendance thus far is not to the extent
that the sky is falling. ... Most of its real success will
start being measured after Year 3." Bonham said that the
league should focus on "quality of the product and drawing a
fan base of young females." WNBA data shows roughly 75% of
fans who attend league games are female (N.Y. TIMES, 7/13).
TV RATINGS FLAT: In Houston, W.H. Stickney examines the
WNBA at its mid-point and writes that the league is
averaging a 1.9 Nielsen rating on NBC and a .71 on ESPN,
both flat from the same point last season. Ratings on
Lifetime are "up slightly" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/13).
NO PAY, NO GAIN: In N.Y., Monica Lewis examines the
WNBA's salary structure and writes that many players feel
that as the league achieves a "growing popularity," salaries
are lagging. Liberty F Vickie Johnson: "We're playing in
front of 13,000 people and selling the merchandise that
we're selling. It's very unfortunate that we're not getting
paid what we deserve." Rookies and veterans earn a minimum
base salary of $25,000 and $30,000, respectively, with the
league's average salary at $56,000. Sting G Dawn Staley has
no complaints about the salaries: "I think the WNBA is
really smart about their business plan" (N.Y. POST, 7/13).
WWC INFLUENCE: In N.Y., Neal Travis writes that the
success of the WWC "may lead to a little image-altering in
the WNBA." He notes the league may aim for a "family
concept" and begin promoting itself "in a less in-your-face
manner" (N.Y. POST, 7/13). U.S. Women's Soccer team members
Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain and others will
attend tomorrow's WNBA All-Star Game. Whitney Houston will
sing the National Anthem, and Tyra Banks will perform at
halftime with 100 N.Y. youth dancers (AP, 7/13).
