David Stern on WNBA

http://espn.go.com/wnba/news/2003/1027/1648314.html


Monday, October 27

Stern insists women's league will go on

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By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com


The WNBA still wants next.

NBA Commissioner David Stern confirmed on Monday that the women's league
will begin the 2004 season with at least 13 teams.

The recent folding of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) called
into question the health of women's professional sports on a grand scale,
but Stern reiterated that the league's owners remain committed to keeping
the women's league -- which had 14 teams for the 2003 season -- afloat.

"Our owners are asking us to come up with a firm plan for our 10th
anniversary celebration -- in three seasons," Stern said.

The league once owned all the teams and had the NBA franchises run them. But
before this past season, the NBA elected to give complete WNBA team
ownership to the NBA teams.

Unable to make sense of women's basketball on their budget, the Miami Heat
subsequently folded the Miami Sol, the Orlando Magic sold the Orlando
Miracle to a group in Connecticut and the Utah Jazz sold its Starzz team to
a group in San Antonio.

After Cleveland Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund saw his WNBA team, the Cleveland
Rockers, experience a 21 percent decline at the gate this past season, he
also gave up the franchise.

"We'll be making the decision as to the status of the Cleveland franchise --
whether it will fold or it will move -- within the next 10 days," Stern
said. "If it folds, we're still committed to going with a minimum of 13
teams."

The league's average attendance dropped by six percent to about 8,800 fans
per game in 2003, as more than half of the 14 teams experienced ticket sales
declines.

The WUSA's folding was precipitated by lack of sponsor support, something
that Stern insists isn't troubling the WNBA. League sponsors include
Coca-Cola, Gatorade, Nike, Reebok and Proctor & Gamble among others.

"More sponsors will be announced over time and I am confident the league
will get stronger in that area," Stern said.

Stern said that at the recent NBA Board of Governors meeting, other owners
wanted to "make it publicly clear to dispel any notions" that the WNBA was
in any jeopardy of ceasing operation.

Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]