WNBA
The WNBA’s success has risen up questions of whether or not other women’s professional sports can be successful as well. “With its future seemingly assured- after breaking the 10,000-mark in average attendance in only its second season, the WNBA expanded to 12 teams and still saw average attendance increase by another 24 percent this season – the question for the women’s sports movement is whether the WNBA will stand alone in its success or whether another sport will emerge to challenge the monopoly men have held in the United States,” (Dobie). Other sports such as softball, soccer, and ice hockey may be the next sports to rise if they possess the following criteria: 1. Great participation at all levels of play, 2. Have legitimate championships, 3. Have smart marketing and scheduling, 4. Create heroes, (Dobie). Women’s professional leagues are in a position to rise to success at a much faster rate than the men’s because of the promotional techniques that were learned through the men’s leagues. “ ‘It took the NBA 40 years to average 10,000 in attendance. It took the WNBA two, because you learn how to promote,’” (Dobie). The WNBA had to realize what their target audience was and how to market towards it.