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WNBA is good, and it can only get better By
Brandon Boone
Within two weeks the Women's National Basketball Association season will start a season that in many ways will be different than any of the four that have proceeded it. The WNBA has done almost everything it needs to do to become the first major women's sport to explode upon our male-dominated culture. Although only 4 years old, the WNBA has overcome criticism, another women's professional league, marketing setbacks, and most of all the American public. And without mistake, it has taken the attitude the women aren't good athletes and slam-dunked it into trashcans all over the world. President and founder Val Ackerman believes the league is on the verge of exploding much like the NBA did in the late '80s and early '90s. The league resembles the NBA in many ways. Its dynasty; the Houston Comets, has won all four WNBA championships and much like the Chicago Bulls, they did it in style. The Comets star and league MVP three of four years, Cynthia Cooper, retired during this past off-season at the top of her game. What? I think everybody knows who retired at the top of his game amidst championships and MVP awards. The WNBA, much like the NBA, has a multimillion-dollar TV contract with NBC, ESPN and Lifetime, a channel primarily devoted to women. Basically, this will put the league in almost everybody's living room for the next six years. Last year it already had better ratings then the National Hockey League. Ackerman thinks the WNBA has promise to explode in the future with new players, from all over the world, and with talent to make even the most sexist man recognize they've got game. This year's draft included players who will no doubt change the face of women's professional basketball and female sports in at least North America. The newest, biggest and most promising face the WNBA is counting on, was the selected as the first pick overall by the Seattle Storm. Her name is Lauren Jackson. That's the only average thing about Jackson. First, she is only 19 and has never attended high school. Second, she is from Australia. Jackson started playing for the Australian national team when she was 15 and has dominated the game since. Last summer at the Olympics, the Australian national team wasn't even picked to get a medal; let alone win a silver medal against the United States. The game, which America won by only nine was dominated by Jackson, who scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds against the toughest competition in the world. Lastly, she stands an astounding 6 feet 5 inches tall, with the body control of a small guard. In other words she is mix between Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson. With athletes like this, Ackerman believes she has a product the North American public can't refuse. "The league may be young, but already has a loyal following. People know when they see a good product and I believe we will pick up where the women's soccer team left off. They (soccer) made the first big step and the WNBA is ready to make the next one," said Ackerman at a press conference after the draft. She's right -- her product is good and all things considered she has already taken that next step. The season will be great and the future will only pale in comparison to the how the female sports are/were today. It's time for us to buckle up and enjoy the ride.
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