The WNBA: The Struggle For Equality
Exposure is an important piece of the puzzle in pushing for equality, not only in the world of basketball, but the world of sports as a whole. Although, the WNBA is steadily climbing as the Forbes list reported “the league welcomed its current president, Laurel J. Richie, known for her marketing acumen, and introduced Boost Mobile as a marquee marketing partner. In 2012, the draft moved to ESPN’s headquarters. In 2013, the WNBA launched a new brand identity, extended its television partnership with ESPN, the "3 To See" rookies gained mainstream attention, and season 17 ended with record growth.” (Glass) The WNBA may not be on the same financial level or branding level as the NBA currently, but the league is now equipped with franchise owners
such as Irvin “Magic” Johnson who has publicly spoken about his advocacy for the WNBA. Not to mention, as the Forbes article reported deals are in place to put WNBA games on the big screen on popular stations such as ESPN. This will be pivotal in the push for equality as it will create a strong marketing element for female athletes as a whole. It’s time that the world recognizes that there is more than meets the eye with professional female athletes.
such as Irvin “Magic” Johnson who has publicly spoken about his advocacy for the WNBA. Not to mention, as the Forbes article reported deals are in place to put WNBA games on the big screen on popular stations such as ESPN. This will be pivotal in the push for equality as it will create a strong marketing element for female athletes as a whole. It’s time that the world recognizes that there is more than meets the eye with professional female athletes.