The LBA's uniform idea was a good one. I am probably going to get flamed for this but... There is nothing wrong with sexing up the uniforms a little. Women's beach volleyball has uniform rules (two piece only!), because they know that a little bit of sex sells, especially on ESPN. I am not saying that they should run around in Bikini's but, something like this would be perfect: <link> Something to catch the eye of the channel surfing male viewer...

Ok, that idea might get a few more male viewers and lesbians but is that really the market the WNBA needs? I say they need to get non lesbian women to support their sport. Thus maybe they should combine a fashion show with the games! If they cannot get non lesbian women to support their sport they are dead.

Women will tune in if the product on the court is exciting. The uniforms are probably irrelevant, so why not "improve" them to attract more male viewers. I don't see a downside.

hmmm. Now that I think of it, my parents were visiting last weekend, and while watching the Vikings game she said she just cheers for the team with the best looking uniform. So who knows...

Women will tune in if the product on the court is exciting.

That is so untrue and you know it. The percent of women that follow sports is a lot lower than men and men sports are 'exciting'. Women like to do other things like walk around the mall (man I would rather watch the WNBA!), instead of watch sports of anykind.

To try to get men to watch women sports in addition to the men sports they already watch OR to switch from watching men sports to women sports will never work.

The best hope for women sports is to try to get women to watch. Still a slim chance but their only hope. Maybe they should have all the refs be very good looking guys!

Jazzguitarman has it down. Will women's basketball compete with cooking shows, home improvement shows, fashion shows, doctor/lawyer shows, crime shows with evil male bad guys and shows with bumbling husbands in the domecile run by the scripted sharpness of the woman with the jaw-length hair cut? Though, seriously, to attract women, show the elements they like. Cut the game time in half to show real-life footage of the basketball ladies, where they live, how they spend their money, who they date and have dated, lots of close-ups of tearful moments about moments of past abuse by members of the oppressive patriarchy. Throw in a few enuchs for referees to reduce the testosterone on the tube. Forget training sessions.

Obviously I don't expect NBA or NFL style ratings if the WNBA is sexed up a little. But I do think that Womens tennis or at least Womens Beach Volleyball type ratings are a possibility.

What do those sports have? Good, exciting sports action? Yes!
But also Anna Kournikova (in a skimpy skirt) and ESPN friendly bikinis.

In the end, I don't see how having less dumpy uniforms can hurt. As far as I know plenty of women watch womens tennis. And it hasn't hurt tennis that Anna Kournikova doesn't have to wear the WNBA burka either.

On the one hand, you have a good point.

On the other, no one seems to be complaining about the long time tradition of men's soccer players exchanging jersey's after the game, or the speedos at Swimming competitions.

"Cut the game time in half to show real-life footage of the basketball ladies, where they live, how they spend their money, who they date and have dated, lots of close-ups of tearful moments about moments of past abuse by members of the oppressive patriarchy."

They already started doing that to some extent with guy players. A lot of the "sports" shows, magazines, radio shows seem to be about stories that happen off the field.

A women below felt your idea could lead to a net DECREASE in fans since for every man they get because of sexier uniforms the sports loses 2 women because the idea is sexist and disrespectful to women. Women are senitive beings you know (ok, not the ones I know but I have heard this!).

That is the fear I suppose, but I don't think it is well founded.

After all, how many female fans has tennis lost because Anna Kournikova ( <link> ) or Serena Williams ( <link> ) are running around the court in hot outfits?
Womens tennis is more popular than ever!
I don't think women mind looking at other women who look good - in sports or otherwise. After all, aren't there whole womens magazines devoted to that sort of thing?

If anything, I think we are being too sensitive, about women being too sensitive! When watching NFL, my wife comments on players rear-ends! I doubt she would get offended if we were watching a WNBA game (with similarly tight uniforms) and I reciprocated.