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Tag: WNBA

  • The Pay Gap in Women’s Sports

    The Pay Gap in Women’s Sports

    The popularity of women’s sports viewership has grown in recent years.  In 2020, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) broke viewership records by nearly 300%, reaching 653,000 views.  Interest in women’s soccer was spurred by the 2019 World Cup win.  The United State’s women’s teams have placed in the top three every World Cup since the tournament was established in 1991, sparking interest.  The 2020 NWSL challenge cup drew viewership on par with a Major League Baseball game airing in the same time slot. 

    So, what has changed?  Esmeralda Negron, the co-founder of Atlanta Media and former professional soccer player, said, “Premium broadcasting plays a massive role in elevating the visibility and profile of leagues and players at the club level.”  Viewership was improved because the first and last games aired on CBS, rather than a subscription service.  Also, the month-long tournament schedule started before the men’s league and before the NBA returned from lockdown. 

    Not only has viewership changed, but viewers want women’s sports.  84% of sports fans are interested in women’s sports, and 66% of people are interested in at least one women’s sport.  The demographic of sports fans are 49% women and 51% men.  The Olympic Channel found that 56% of engagement comes from women, and viewership of women’s content is 16% higher than that of men’s.  Yet, only half of the sports governing bodies have a boardroom of at least 25% women. 

    The sports gender gap goes beyond viewership.  In NCAA Division 1 schools, more than half of the students are women, yet only 44% of athletic opportunities are for women.  Division 1 football schools only give women 29% of total athletic operating expenses, 28% of recruiting dollars, and 39% of athletic scholarship dollars.  For every $1 spent on women’s sports, $2.50 are spent on men’s, and coaches for women earn $.063 for every $1 earned by coaches for men.

    In addition, there are huge pay gaps for female athletes.  On average, female athletes are earning 63% of their male counterparts.  In basketball, the NBA pays its players up to 51% of the league’s revenue, but the WNBA only pays its players up to 23% of their league’s revenue.  In addition, in 2020, Forbes’ 50 highest-paid athletes included just one woman, Naomi Osaka. 

    What does the future hold?  While fewer people are interested in women’s sports than some men’s sports, there is still a large fanbase.  The potential fanbase for women’s sports is in the millions; 38% of people who’d never watched a women’s sports even before say they “could be interested” in the future.  Media coverage is key in improving viewership and interest.  In 2020, women made up 40% of sportspeople but received just 4% of the sports media coverage.  Lack of media coverage impacts sponsorships, creating missed opportunities.

    Women’s sports represent a valuable sponsorship opportunity for brands, yet just .4% of sponsorship dollars go to women’s sports.  1 in 5 people is more influenced by sponsorships of women’s than of men’s.  3 in 4 people interested in women’s sports can name at least one brand involved, and 63% of people believe brands should invest in both women’s and men’s sports.  It’s time to invest in women’s sports.

    “The fact that it’s 2021 and the WNBA and NCAA women’s sports are treated like some sort of rec league specialty sport like the national corn hole league is is beyond disgusting, it’s time to stand up and bring true equality to sports.” Eric Mitchell – CEO, LifeFlip Media

    The Business of Women

  • Glory Johnson: Tulsa Shock Star Gives Birth to Premature Twins

    Glory Johnson, a basketball player for the Tulsa Shock, gave birth to premature twins on Monday, October 12. Each weighing less than two pounds, there will no doubt be a fight to keep these babies healthy and alive.

    Taking to social media shortly after the babies’ births, Glory Johnson shared a photo of tiny hands and tiny feet.

    “We all know God makes NO mistakes and by his grace, everything will work out for the greater good. We will continue to trust God as they are in his hands. Continue to keep us lifted because there is sooo much power in PRAYER!!!” she captioned her Instagram post.

    A photo posted by Glory B Johnson (@missvol25) on

    Due in February, Ava and Solei each weighed in at 1 lb. 7 oz. when they were delivered last Monday. No additional information about the babies’ health is available at this time.

    Glory Johnson married fellow WNBA player Brittany Griner in May, right after both women were arrested for domestic violence. Griner filed for an annulment from Glory Johnson, but it was denied in August.

    Glory Johnson announced in June that she was pregnant. She conceived the babies via IVF treatments and a sperm donor. In August, Johnson shared the sex of the babies.

    “I have So Much LEARNING to do before you BOTH get here ???? . . . But I promise to prepare myself Everyday to Properly Welcome You Home! ????” Glory Johnson captioned this Instagram shot taken in her hospital room.

    A photo posted by Glory B Johnson (@missvol25) on

    Hopefully Glory Johnson has recovered from this premature delivery of her baby girls. Surely many people are praying for her babies, and for the medical staff working hard to keep them healthy until they are well enough to leave the hospital.

    Guarded congratulations are no doubt going out to Glory Johnson. Her babies are small, and likely require a lot of intervention to keep them alive.

    Neonatal units in hospitals are equipped with many options these days that help babies like Glory Johnson’s develop as if they were still in their mom’s womb. They are also equipped with knowledgable staff whose days and nights are dedicated to seeing exactly that take place.

  • Brittney Griner Denied Marriage Annulment, Judge Rules In Favor Of Glory Johnson

    The annulment request filed by Brittney Griner against her soon-to-be ex-wife, Glory Johnson, has been denied by an Arizona judge.

    According to People magazine, “The court decision effectively enforces Griner’s position as the couple’s breadwinner, since Johnson has taken a year off from the court to carry twins – a pregnancy that Johnson, who plays for the Tulsa Shock, announced on June 4, one day before Griner filed to annul the 28-day marriage.”

    Griner filed the annulment case claiming that the marriage was “void based on fraud and duress,” according to a report by the New York Times.

    In an interview with People, 24-year-old Griner revealed that she tried to cancel the wedding. She said she felt she made a mistake marrying Johnson.

    On the other hand, Johnson said that she was thankful that the annulment request was denied. She admitted in People magazine that the two of them made life changing decisions which made an impact on their lives as a couple.  Furthermore, she honestly felt that both of them “should be held responsible for those decisions.”

    According to recent reports, their relationship started to face problems after Johnson had been accused of having an affair with a boyfriend. Afterwards, the two WNBA stars were arrested for physically assaulting each other. The incident led to the WNBA suspending Johnson and Griner for seven games.

    After the court decision, Johnson poured out her feelings on social media.  On her Instagram, she posted a photo that said, “Lying is done with words and also with silence.” She further explained her situation in the caption and denied all rumors that she cheated on her wife.

  • Brittney Griner Fights Demand For $20k Per Month Spousal Support By Ex-Wife Glory Johnson

    According to ESPN, Brittney Griner is being asked to pay $20,000 for temporary monthly spousal support by former wife and WNBA star Glory Johnson. Court documents filed in June in Maricopa County, Arizona also state that she is requesting a $10,000 advancement for her attorney’s fees.

    The two basketball players were married May 8 – just a few weeks after a domestic violence incident in their Arizona home on April 22 where both of them were arrested. After this event, the WNBA suspended both players.

    Griner filed to annul her marriage to Johnson on June 4 arguing that she was pressured into marriage under duress by Johnson’s threatening statements.

    Stasy Click, Johnson’s legal representative, stated in the filing that Griner has” far superior control over the family’s financial resources” and that Johnson is “without the necessary financial means to pay for legal representation in this matter.”

    The filing also stated that Johnson is unable to seek employment outside of basketball because she is having a high-risk pregnancy. She is pregnant with twins.

    Click stated that Johnson is currently on a slashed salary from the WNBA due to her pregnancy, which also means she will not be able to play overseas this winter.

    It was also stated that Johnson’s insurance does not cover household assistance, personal trainers, and medical care.

    In vitro fertilization, wedding expenses, and furnishing of the home they once shared drained Johnson’s finances, as stated in the filing.

    According to ESPN, Griner declared that “due to the brief marriage, neither side was in need of nor entitled to spousal support.”

    There will be an evidentiary hearing set on August 17 at Maricopa County Central Building in Phoenix for Griner’s petition and Johnson’s counter-petition.

    espnW tried contacting both parties last Monday but were unsuccessful.

  • Brittney Griner, Glory Johnson: Next Up, Parenthood

    Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson tied the knot just one month ago, and have just announced that baby will soon make three.

    People magazine reports that Glory Johnson was the one to break the news.

    On Thursday she shared her and Brittney Griner’s excitement via Instagram.

    “#SUCCESS #BLESSED #WelcomeToTheJohnsonGrinerFamily,” she captioned the most creative photo of a cake.

    Is this not the best way to announce a baby is on the way?

    A photo posted by missvol25 (@missvol25) on

    Glory Johnson also shared the big announcement via a statement released by her team–the Tulsa Shock–ahead of the home opener on Friday.

    “It has always been a dream of mine to start a family with someone I love,” the statement reads. “Being a professional athlete that plays year-round, there is never a perfect time to get pregnant without putting my career on hold. The entire process, from learning our fertility options, to making sacrifices necessary nine months before the child is born, is merely preparing me to become a great wife and an even better mother.”

    “Right now, I not only have my health to worry about, but also the health of this little one resting inside of me. Rest assured I will be back next season, stronger and more ready to play than ever!” she adds.

    Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson wed on May 8th at a mountaintop resort in Phoenix. Just two weeks prior to their wedding they made headlines for a domestic disturbance they had in their home that led to Johnson calling 911.

    Brittney Griner issued a statement via her attorney shortly after her arrest.

    “It is never okay for an argument to turn physical. This will never happen again, and I take my relationship and my responsibility as a role model seriously,” the statement read.

    Hopefully things have truly settled down for Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson. With baby making three, the WNBA players will need an atmosphere of both peace and love in which to raise their child together.

  • Brittney Griner, Glory Johnson: Fellow WNBA Stars Wed on Heels of Domestic Incident

    Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson–fellow WNBA stars–have tied the knot on the heels of a domestic incident.

    The two married on Friday at a resort near their Phoenix home.

    People magazine reports that 75 guests attended the wedding ceremony at Tapatio Cliffs Resort.

    Both Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson were taken into custody back on April 23rd following a domestic incident that took place inside their home. Brittney Griner entered a guilty plea to disorderly conduct. If she completes a 26-week program of domestic violence counseling, all charges against her will be dropped.

    “It is never OK for an argument to turn physical,” Griner said in a statement she released through her attorney. “This will never happen again, and I take my relationship and my responsibility as a role model seriously.”

    “I am committed to making positive changes and I plan to use what I have learned to set a good example and help make a difference in the world around me,” she added.

    Brittney Griner plays center for three-time WNBA champions, Phoenix Mercury. Glory Johnson is a forward with the Tulsa Shock.

    The couple shared the following wedding photo to both of their Instagram accounts.

    “I don’t care if the the world was ending at this moment! Nothing could of kept me from my wife. I think I cried the whole day until I saw her walking down that isle. Then in a instant I was calm and full of love and all the tears turned into huge smiles and a joy that no one can explain unless you have found and married your soulmate. I love you so much my beautiful Wife @missvol25,” Brittney Griner captioned the shot.

    Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson’s first dance as a married couple was to Ed Sheeran’s tune ‘Thinking Out Loud.’

    Congratulations to these two WNBA players. May they enjoy a long and happy life together.

  • Skylar Diggins Is The WNBA’s Most Improved Player

    She was once a basketball player for Washington High School, then she moved on to Notre Dame. Now she has been declared the WNBA’s most improved player. The WNBA has officially acknowledged that Skylar Diggins, guard for the Tulsa Shocks, has come a long way.

    The Chicago Tribune described her as struggling on a “weak team”. They pointed out that her scoring average more than doubled this season: 8.5 to 20.1. Her team this season did not improve as much as she did. Last year the Shocks were 11-23. This year they were 12-22. Both times they were in last place for the West, missing the playoffs in the process.

    According to the South Bend Tribune, Diggins was number three in the overall draft pick of 2013. The panel described as “national and local sportswriters and broacasters”, voted to name her the WNBA’s most improved player, 29 out of 38.

    Diggins caught some publicity back in February by posing for the Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue. “I didn’t really know how I was going to approach modeling swimsuits,” she said, “I had never modeled in a swimsuit before. As the shoot went along, I got more and more comfortable. That really helped me get some great shots.”

    Even though her professional career is just beginning, the player has received so much recognition for her contributions to the sport. Her alma matter, Notre Dame, even has a plaque in her honor placed in the woman’s basketball section of Heritage Hall.

  • Skylar Diggins Flaunts Bikini For Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

    Skylar Diggins isn’t on the basketball court these days, but she’s definitely putting in work. The Tulsa Shock guard recently had the esteemed honor of posing for the Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue.

    According to E! News, the Notre Dame alum’s beach spread took place in the British Virgin Islands. Diggins shed her basketball jersey for a blue and white Tory Burch bikini.

    The WNBA third overall draft pick was featured in the edition along with NWSL star Alex Morgan, professional surfer Anastasia Ashley, and a number of other female models, including John Legend’s wife, model Chrissy Tiegen. While the prestigious opportunity may not seem like a big deal for most, Diggins expressed to Sports Illustrated that she was quite surprised when the publication asked.

    In a short video on the site, the 23-year-old hoop star shared her sentiments on the opportunity. She also revealed that she had first-time jitters about modeling swimsuits.

    “I didn’t really know how I was going to approach modeling swimsuits,” Diggins said in a video on SportsIllustrated.com. “I had never modeled in a swimsuit before. As the shoot went along, I got more and more comfortable. That really helped me get some great shots.”

    “I loved the pictures. I think this was a great change of pace for me, speaking as an athlete, now, to show my femininity. I think that every woman is beautiful in her own way. It’s great to be a part of this magazine that celebrates not only models, but athletes as well, and puts it into perspective that all women are beautiful.”

    Diggins’ step-father Maurice Scott also weighed in explaining that she’d discussed the opportunity with her family before committing to the Sports Illustrated deal. “We are supportive of Skylar,” Scott said. “I said, the only thing is, Mom is going to have to go on the set and make sure the swimsuits she puts on have some taste, and make sure it wasn’t anything too bad for Dad’s sake.”

    The South Bend, IN native took to Twitter to share her elation about the swimsuit issue with fans. She also tweeted some of the pictures from the shoot to her 444K followers. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, which is also Diggins’ sports management company, tweeted pictures from the shoot as well.

    Diggins also shared pictures via Instagram. She included one picture that captured her full beach spread. She caption for the picture simply said, “Surreal.”


    The Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue hit newsstands Tuesday, Feb. 18.

    Image via Skylar Diggins, Facebook

  • Skylar Diggins Honored By WNBA and Notre Dame

    It’s been a whirlwind five months for stunning, professional basketball player, Skylar Diggins. As a highly sought-after prospect for the WNBA, Diggins was selected as the third overall draft pick by the Tulsa Shock. Following the draft, she graduated from the prestigious Notre Dome, after a praiseworthy four-year run on and off the court. She also inked a sports management deal with the Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports. Then, on September 15th, she wrapped up the last game of her rookie season with the Shock. Now, she’s embarking on another level of amazing feats.

    The Tulsa Shock guard received the prestigious honor of being named to the WNBA All-Rookie team, according to Tulsa World. Humbled by the esteemed honor, Diggins took to Twitter in an effort to express her gratitude and appreciation for the league, her team and the fans collectively.

    She even went a step further to express her love for her fans and the city of Tulsa. In a surprise visit this week, Diggins stopped by McLain High School in Tulsa OK. She delivered 14 new pairs of custom basketball shoes to the school’s girls basketball team. Tulsa World reported that not even the coach was aware that she’d be dropping in, so the visit came as a welcomed ambush to everyone. Diggins shared a picture of the girls basketball team on Twitter.

    The Shock basketball team also congratulated the rising star rookie on her success this season.

    In light of the WNBA honors, Diggins also received another prestigious honor from none other than her collegiate alma-mater, Notre Dame. As the only player in Notre Dame history to be selected as a four-time All-American, there’s no doubt why Diggins is permanently etched in university’s history books. For that commendable attainment, the university honored Diggins with a plaque that has been hung in the woman’s basketball section of Heritage Hall.

    It’s been a laudable week for Tulsa’s emerging rookie, and from the looks of it, this is only the beginning.

    Image via ESPN

  • Elena Delle Donne: Gorgeous Amazon Wins Rookie Of The Year at WNBA

    Elena Delle Donne may not be the tallest WNBA player ever, but her place in basketball history was immortalized this past Friday when she won the 2013 rookie of the year award.

    Donne secured all the 39 first place votes and was presented with the glittering coveted trophy by WNBA president Laurel J. Ritchie before Chicago Sky vs Indiana Fever playoff opener.

    ”I had the pleasure of watching Elena Delle Donne compete in her first WNBA game…and in my very, very humble estimation it seemed to have taken her maybe 10 minutes to make the transition from the college game to the professional game,” an excited Richie exclaimed.

    The gorgeous 6-foot-5 Amazon averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and shot 93 percent from the free throw line to help the team from Illinois make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. What’s more, Chicago Sky earned the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

    Delle Donne, who has struggled with emotional and psychological burn-outs during her young mercurial career had this to say, ”I’m definitely humbled to be receiving this award among such a talented rookie class this season.”

    In her earlier years while playing college basketball Donne was facing emotional problems due to separation from her family. Donne has a deep unwavering bond with her older sister Lizzie, who is deaf, blind and has cerebral palsy. Eventually, she bounced back from the turmoil and performed better than ever. Watch Elena describing her relationship with her sister http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3BHHoBv8kc

    At the award ceremony, Delle Donne was joined by two of her teammates, center Sylvia Fowles and forward Swin Cash who were also honored by WNBA. Here is what Elena tweeted later:

    Not content with the award, she is pretty much raring to win the next game. Delle Donne also had some nice things to say about team mates which will certainly boost the team spirit and camaraderie – ”Truthfully, I talk about them because the individual accolades and the individual success doesn’t come without them…’They’ve helped me rise to the occasion game after game, practice after practice…I owe them a ton.”

    So will Elena help Chicago Sky win the WNBA championship this season? We will be watching closely.

    [image from twitter]

  • Chamique Holdsclaw Arrested For Gun Violence

    Former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw turned herself over to police on Thursday night due to an arrest warrant being issued in her name. The basketballer allegedly instigated a violent incident involving a former teammate and fired a gun inside the other woman’s car.

    While details are sketchy, Holdsclaw reportedly asked ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lacy if she could put some things in Lacy’s Range Rover. Lacy complied, but as she drove off she smelled gasoline and realized Holdsclaw had dumped it in the back of her vehicle. She also realized the Olympic gold medalist was following her, and when she pulled over at a friend’s house, Holdsclaw jumped out of her vehicle and began smashing the windows of the Range Rover before firing a gun inside. Police recovered a shell casing and say they believe she was trying to create an explosion by firing into the gasoline.

    Holdsclaw is being held in an Atlanta jail on $10,000 bond; Lacy was unharmed. While she hasn’t commented yet on what may have happened to trigger the incident, she did thank friends and family for being supportive and assured everyone she is okay.

    Holdsclaw, who says she has attempted suicide in the past, wrote a memoir after her basketball career ended in 2010 in which she talks about a longtime battle with depression.

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    Images: YouTube

  • Bing to Appear on Women’s Basketball Jerseys

    Microsoft announced today that it has signed a multiyear marquee partnership with the Seattle Storm and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). A representative for Bing tells WebProNews that the following will represent the following opportunities for Bing:

    – Bing will be able to share its brand with a devoted and passionate fan base.

    – Bing will be the official decision engine of stormbasketball.com.

    –  Bing logo and name will appear on the front of the Storm’s home and visitor jerseys and shooting shirts, and in-arena signage.

    –  Storm will debut its new uniforms when the team hits the court for the season opener of its 11th season on Sunday, May 2.

    –  Bing is the third major marquee partner to the WNBA.

    Bing Appears on Seattle Storm Jerseys

    "The Seattle Storm is a major sports franchise in a major market, and we are thrilled to join with them and invest in our hometown," said Danielle Tiedt, general manager of Marketing for Bing at Microsoft. "Bing shares in the passion and dedication that the Storm organization has for the Seattle community and this partnership helps Bing reach the Storm’s dedicated fan base in a unique way."

    Bing is certainly not letting up on the marketing.

    Storm President and CEO says both the Storm and Bing are "leading organizations in our respective fields." I wonder what Google would have to say about that or 2009 WNBA Champions the Phoenix Mercury for that matter.