Daily Poll: Phoenix Mercury - Do you care?

by Seth Pollack on Apr 9, 2009 11:16 AM MST in Phoenix Suns Commentary

Today is the WNBA draft and the Phoenix Mercury (the only pro basketball team in Phoenix with a title) has the fifth overall pick.

Most of us haven't paid any attention to women's basketball.

For me it's the lower level of play given the height and physical differences. The game below the rim just isn't as exciting as seeing the best athletes in the universe fly, pass, shoot and dunk. On the few occasions I've gone to a WNBA game I've just not been able to get excited about it.

I've been thinking though that perhaps there's more to this then I've given credit. Just like the D-league isn't played at the same talent level as the NBA, I've come to have a tremendous appreciation for how hard they play the game. There is far more to sports entertainment then talent or we wouldn't care at all about March Madness, high school sports, or watching our kids play tee ball.

There's something about a college graduate choosing to play professional basketball for $30k per year that is intriguing to me. Did you know for example that all of the WNBA players salaries combined equal half of what Stephan Marbury got paid this year to "play"?

So, this summer I am going to pay more attention to the Mercury and see if there's something there that I've been missing in my off-season sports entertainment options or if in reality, it's just not worth watching.

[Note by Phoenix Stan, 04/09/09 4:49 PM MST ]

The Mercury selected guard DeWanna Bonner with the 5th pick. They described her as being their top choice all along and seemed thrilled; but of course GM's always say that don't they...

Bonner is long and thin (6'4" and 130lbs) which puts her about the same size as Corey Brewer and taller then most NBA guards.

I really have no context to evaluate this pick. I've never seen her play but perhaps this summer we will see what she's all about and she and I can learn about the Mercury together. One thing's for sure - even if the basketball isn't high-flying the a/c is super cool.

Here's Mercury GM and basketball HOF'er Ann Meyers-Drysdale talking about the pick:

If you need even more Mercury info head over to Fanster.com where they've got all you want to know and then some.

Poll

Why don't you follow the WNBA?

Talent level is so far below the men - the game is boring

138 votes

Never thought about it, but I am curious

30 votes

Don't like women's sports at all

54 votes

I already do

49 votes

271 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I think one of the options should be "It gets no coverage.."

I haven’t seen a WNBA game on TV since way back in the day. If asked to name WNBA players, I’d just name college basketball players that I remembered from the FInal Four. I’m not saying this would make me watch it, but it seems tough to follow.

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by Scott Schroeder on Apr 9, 2009 11:49 AM MST reply actions

my opinion

keyword: opinion (keep in mind a few friends constantly flame me for this)

There are different aspects that you can appreciate. If it were women v men I would have no interest at all. But it is not, is is women vs, women and in turn just like int he nba there are women that are finesse/beasts/great passers/great shooters etc. There are also the kobe’s/nash’s/lebrons/insert superstar here. What I mean is that there are women players that are simply above the rest. DT(turasi) led the Huskies to three consecutive NCAA championships, if that is nothing at the college level either women or men I don’t know what is. In fact she lost 8 games TOTAL during her entire college career(139 wins). For what it’s worth we have arguably one of the best female pg’s to ever play the game. Here are her accolades:

Big East Player of the Year (2003, 2004)
Wade Trophy (2003)
Naismith Award (2003, 2004)
NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2003, 2004)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2004)
All-WNBA First Team (2004, 2007)
WNBA All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007)

I have watched much more mercury than I have the WNBA, by no means do I crack out on it like I do the NBA. I will also say that the man in me just plain enjoys good looking women getting after it on the court, Cappie Pondexter is just pure fun to watch when shes on. I hate to say it but she reminds of ginobli/barbosa in the sense that she will wreck another teams defensive scheme by just going nuts.

One more thing, the games get VERY VERY testy sometimes. The refs seem to like to let them play like its mens NCAA sometimes, and alot of the coaches are oldschool style physical coachs that preach what they used to practice. These girls are fkin tough too, last season or the season before someone had their eye pop out of its socket, it was disgusting. The WNBA playoffs are for sure worth the watch if you can not be biased towards it and watch it for what it is: a playoff competition between 2 professional womens teams. They do want to win, they will foul and foul hard, certain players will elevate their game and there will be takeover performances.

for real one last thing: I hate san antonio whether its bball or hockey or football or whatever, but I love me some Becky Hammon <3

Gentlemen, you may now flame away

by M-A-Nthefkup on Apr 9, 2009 3:34 PM MST reply actions

Becky Hammon

I watched double the olympics women’s bball because of her. She rules

PSN ID- presbot

by presbot on Apr 9, 2009 4:25 PM MST up reply actions

Consider yourself flamed.

"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee."

Drew Gooden.

by Diosnomeama on Apr 9, 2009 3:52 PM MST reply actions

touche

by M-A-Nthefkup on Apr 9, 2009 4:08 PM MST up reply actions

Wow

That is a crazy stat about WNBA salaries.. I had no idea.

by bangbang240 on Apr 9, 2009 5:54 PM MST reply actions

Many of the WNBA players go over to Russia and other countries to play during the WNBA’s off season because IIRC they get a lot more money (I thought I heard something like $500,000) and perks for playing over there. I found this information below from 2004 when I Googled “what do WNBA players earn?”:

“The women of the WNBA earned on average between $46,000 (says the union) and $60,000 for the season (says the league). It certainly seems unfair that WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson can make a maximum of $87,000 per year (according to the latest collective bargaining agreement), while perennial NBA disappointment Shawn Bradley is guaranteed a minimum of $1,100,000. But consider the following: average NBA attendance is about 17,000 per game, while the WNBA brings in 10,000. The average NBA ticket price is over $45, the WNBA just $15. "

Regardless, I enjoy watching the Mercury when I can manage to find a game on TV!

by TwinnerA on Apr 9, 2009 10:58 PM MST up reply actions