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Until #NBA 
games were nationally televised, the league struggled to find relevance. A major turning point for the league came in 1956, when the 1st @NBA Finals game was nationally televised, and the league was finally believed to have growth potential. (1/8)
games were nationally televised, the league struggled to find relevance. A major turning point for the league came in 1956, when the 1st @NBA Finals game was nationally televised, and the league was finally believed to have growth potential. (1/8)
At the time, NBA Commissioner Maurice Podoloff attributed the league's newfound success to TV, and said, "All this interest has suddenly come up since the games have been on network TV." (2/8)
We're sharing this, because the @WNBA (an entity of the @NBA) continues to take criticism every day for having less viewership, fans, and sales than its male counterpart. (3/8)
In October 2018, even #NBA Commissioner Adam Silver essentially deemed the #WNBA a failure, when he critically shared in an interview that the WNBA loses over $10 million each year. (4/8)
Commissioner Adam Silver essentially deemed the #WNBA a failure, when he critically shared in an interview that the WNBA loses over $10 million each year. (4/8)
It's important to keep in mind though that the #WNBA does not have nearly the same amount of broadcast exposure that the NBA has.
In 2019, the WNBA only had 121 of their games broadcast on major networks, while the NBA had 276 games aired on major TV networks. (5/8)
In 2019, the WNBA only had 121 of their games broadcast on major networks, while the NBA had 276 games aired on major TV networks. (5/8)
Additionally, the @WNBA just finished its 24th season, while the @NBA just started its 75th. Essentially, the NBA has had a 50-year head start on the WNBA. (6/8)
So let's be clear: the slow & steady growth of the #WNBA is not a "failure" of the league. Rather, it's a remarkable success - despite the failed leadership of the NBA to properly invest in and support their own entity. (7/8)
The NBA leadership team needs to learn the history of their own league, and use lessons from their challenging past to direct the future of the #WNBA.
A good place to start? Put the WNBA on TV. (8/8)
A good place to start? Put the WNBA on TV. (8/8)
