Running 2026 WNBA Thread

[PaperClip529]

I can't believe how bad at PR the WNBA continues to be. It is truly mindboggling.

 

[MileHigh]

I realize DP isn't everyone's cup of tea, but he generally is as good as it gets if you want someone asking you "tough" questions. He doesn't play "gotcha." I think Rich Eisen is good that way too.

But judging by the video the commish needs as much practice time as she can get. Horrible swing.

He's tough but fair. All you can ask for. He's the opposite of ESPN. And if you don't like it, then you're wrong.

I listen every day. It's a great show.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

DP used to be available on replay here a while ago, but DFW no longer has a sports radio affiliate carrying him. The Ticket has laid waste to all of its competitors, for better or worse.

 

[MarkWatney]

I can't believe how bad at PR the WNBA continues to be. It is truly mindboggling.

Part of the problem is the weird disconnected structure of WNBA operations. If the NBA was totally running the show, as many people believe, many or most of these PR problems would have been squashed long ago.

But while the NBA definitely still has considerable influence on the league and what they do, there is definitely a subgenre within the WNBA that wants to prove independence from the big brother NBA and assert, yes, that "nobbudduh tellz them whut ta dew."

Also the WNBA has a problem with no real comparison in the NBA, in that products/graduates of one particular college program and their coach hold a massively disproportionate amount of influence in the professional league.

Over the decades at various times, John Wooden, Dean Smith, John Thompson and Mike Krzyzewski have had enough alumni in the NBA to have some influence, but nothing like Geno has had in the WNBA for the last 30 years.

 

[MileHigh]

DP used to be available on replay here a while ago, but DFW no longer has a sports radio affiliate carrying him. The Ticket has laid waste to all of its competitors, for better or worse.

They download the show into a podcast. Available less than an hour after the show ends.

 

[Alma]

This writer tries really hard to couch criticism for the WNBA inside an overwhelming amount of praise for the league. It speaks to the delicacy of speaking basic pragmatism to institutions captured by progressivism. (Which the author heartily celebrates.)

The WNBA Is Losing Control of Its Own Story

 

[DanOregon]

That the PR staff thought bailing on an interview with Patrick - during a slow time in the sports calendar no less - is preferable to being asked some questions that might not all be softballs tells me you need a new PR team (something that has been evident for a while now). Why even GO to the golf tournament if not to do media? You're either a "big-time" league or you aren't. This isn't about Caitlin Clark, it's about the league wanting only cheerleaders in the media section. Patrick has cred. He's not going to go easy because he works for a league "corporate partner," (like Fox or ESPN people would do).

 

[HanSenSE]

She wasn't the greatest at dealing with the media during negotiations either.

 

[Batman]

That the PR staff thought bailing on an interview with Patrick - during a slow time in the sports calendar no less - is preferable to being asked some questions that might not all be softballs tells me you need a new PR team (something that has been evident for a while now). Why even GO to the golf tournament if not to do media? You're either a "big-time" league or you aren't. This isn't about Caitlin Clark, it's about the league wanting only cheerleaders in the media section. Patrick has cred. He's not going to go easy because he works for a league "corporate partner," (like Fox or ESPN people would do).

He's not exactly a bomb thrower or a wild card either, like McAfee or the Barstool people would be.
And Patrick wasn't even mad she wouldn't do the interview. His whole point was that it would have been fine to just say no thanks, but to agree and then back out the way she did was unprofessional.

 

[DanOregon]

He asks the questions in a way that gets the information from the interviewee, rather than trying to make himself look like a tough guy. Something like "Why is there a perception that the league and its players don't respect Caitlin Clark the way the public thinks it should?"
And again, if you are a PR pro, its your job to be able to get the person you work for through those interviews with canned answers. Hell, watch tape of Goodell's "State of the Game" pressers. He's a master at using a lot of words and saying nothing.

 

[Alma]

That the PR staff thought bailing on an interview with Patrick - during a slow time in the sports calendar no less - is preferable to being asked some questions that might not all be softballs tells me you need a new PR team (something that has been evident for a while now). Why even GO to the golf tournament if not to do media? You're either a "big-time" league or you aren't. This isn't about Caitlin Clark, it's about the league wanting only cheerleaders in the media section. Patrick has cred. He's not going to go easy because he works for a league "corporate partner," (like Fox or ESPN people would do).

I suspect something else is afoot and who knows what.

ESPN basically runs the league based on how much it paid for WNBA rights. This could be a situation where, when she talks, she'll talk to an ESPN friendly.

 

[MileHigh]

I suspect something else is afoot and who knows what.

ESPN basically runs the league based on how much it paid for WNBA rights. This could be a situation where, when she talks, she'll talk to an ESPN friendly.

The WNBA has media rights deals with Disney, (ABC/ESPN), NBC Universal (NBC, USA, Peacock), Amazon Prime, Paramount (CBS) and Scripps.

As mentioned before, she agreed to go on the show. She kept the crew waiting for two hours. It was going to be taped because they were broadcasting from Tahoe last week from 6 a..m. to 9 a.m. local and almost all of their interviews last week were recorded because of the time.

And as Dan mentioned, he's a very fair interviewer. He's not a flamethrower but he asks the right, important questions. She's the damn commissioner getting paid a lot of money. Part of your job is to take these questions. The PR staff has been abysmal and makes the league look like a complete joke.

 

[Alma]

The WNBA has media rights deals with Disney, (ABC/ESPN), NBC Universal (NBC, USA, Peacock), Amazon Prime, Paramount (CBS) and Scripps.

As mentioned before, she agreed to go on the show. She kept the crew waiting for two hours. It was going to be taped because they were broadcasting from Tahoe last week from 6 a..m. to 9 a.m. local and almost all of their interviews last week were recorded because of the time.

And as Dan mentioned, he's a very fair interviewer. He's not a flamethrower but he asks the right, important questions. She's the damn commissioner getting paid a lot of money. Part of your job is to take these questions. The PR staff has been abysmal and makes the league look like a complete joke.

She agreed to go on the show. Doesn’t mean the DP’s team went through her PR team to set it up.

I’m not trying to defend her or the WNBA or the PR team. It’s definitely amateur hour. I am suggesting that her flaking out was more than just pure cowardice.

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[MarkWatney]

The commissioner of a league should be capable of handling themselves in a hour long sit-down interview with a relatively neutral interviewer.

Just be aware there might be a couple slightly sticky questions, and have pre-cooked answers ready to go.

 

[HanSenSE]

So amid all the fuss, the commissioner gives an interview to the SF Chronicle, which made the 15-minute trip to cover the celebrity tournament.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Channel-flipping between WC matches and I saw Portland's floor. I thought for a minute my telly had reverted to black and white. Only color in the picture was of the red jerseys of the road team. I don't remember seeing the center logo in living color either. WTF?

 

[MarkWatney]

Hmmm.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly convinced WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to suspend Alyssa Thomas

 

[MarkWatney]

Clark with 45/10a as Indiana beats Seattle 110-107.

 

[BTExpress]

Had to rally in the fourth quarter to beat a 6-21 team playing on the road. Fever cannot (or just will not) play defense.