NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Laurel Richie's decision to leave the WNBA after serving as President for five years "offers the league an opportunity to 'reset' heading into its landmark 20th season," according to Michelle Smith of ESPNW.com. Richie announced she is stepping down, effective Monday, to "pursue other interests." NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum "will run the league on an interim basis." Silver emphasized that the change "was Richie's decision." Silver: "I want to be clear. We are 100 percent committed to the league." He added that he has "talked to all of the WNBA owners over the past few days since Richie informed him of her intentions to leave the league." He also "talked to NBA owners." Silver said that he has "no profile in mind for a new league president beyond finding 'the best candidate'" (ESPNW.com, 11/4). Richie last night said, "I just felt like it was time. I'm very proud of the work we accomplished in the last five seasons. I think we really solidified the business. It feels like a sound foundation from which future growth can happen." VICE SPORTS' Howard Megdel writes Richie's departure is a "huge loss for the WNBA." She was "adept at communications what the WNBA is about in a way that's essential for a young league that's still defining itself" (SPORTS.VICE.com, 11/5). The AP noted Richie "assumed her role" with the league in May '11, "becoming the first African-American to lead a major sports league" (AP, 11/4).
20/20 VISION: USA TODAY's Nina Mandell noted the WNBA is nearing its 20th anniversary, and "with that comes an incredible opportunity to market what is the third major anniversary of the league." The ability of Richie's replacement "to capitalize on that and rally two decades worth of women’s basketball fans and players gives an opportunity to not only thank fans, but bring back fans from defunct franchises that may have lost touch with the sport." There also is an opportunity to "market all of the marquee players from throughout the years and re-engage people who were watching the league, for example, to see Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes or Cynthia Cooper and haven’t found themselves attached to anyone in the current league" (USATODAY.com, 11/4).
