Welcome to the WNBA: The Game Will Not Be Televised with Dr. Courtney Cox

Women's sports, and women's basketball in particular, is having a moment.

But if a moment happens in an arena with no broadcast partner, did it really happen? That was the reality for lots of fans - and lots more if not for heyheyitsalli on Twitter/X - trying to watch the WNBA for the first time on May 4, 2024. And sorry to say folks, that's not super unusual.

Welcome back to That Can't Be Right and for new women's hoops fans, welcome to the WNBA, a league we love no matter how hard they make it to watch games featuring top draft picks. Friend of the pod, Dr. Courtney Cox returns to discuss the WNBA through the lens of labor, media, politics, identity, activism, and then Xs and Os. Big topics:

• Caitlin Clark, a player you've probably never heard of in your life
• Our WNBA fandom origin story
• Where'd we like to see the WNBA expand (Houston, obviously but we need an even number of teams)
• Big money, big money, big money
• The fan experience and missed opportunities by the WNBA (I just want to buy Nike ninja headbands)
• The player experience - flights, feelings, overseas contracts, roster slots (your favs might not make it), playing in rec league gyms
• How to hold the league accountable
• And how to pick your squad if you don't live in a city with a team!

References:

• 144: https://vimeo.com/552923319
• WNBA "We Got Next" campaign: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CODmsw8LIc5/
• Bet on Women by Nneka Ogwumike in the Players' Tribune: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/nneka-ogwumike-wnba-cba-bet-on-women
• Kelsey Plum on The Residency Pod talking revenue share for the W: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Clbx6tVjs_1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• WNBA in the Bay: https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/oakland-wnba-expansion-san-francisco-engelbert-18421448.php
• The Spy Who Signed Me: https://30for30podcasts.com/episodes/the-spy-who-signed-me/ 
• The Kaplan Report: https://ncaagenderequityreview.com/ 
• Sedona Prince 2021 weight room video: https://www.tiktok.com/@sedonerrr/video/6941180880127888646?lang=en 
• Sophie Cunningham v Kahleah Copper: https://www.instagram.com/espnw/p/C3A1XSEu6jl/?img_index=2 

 

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