When you look at the growth in popularity of women's college basketball (which I believe also plays with a smaller ball), one would think that the WNBA would grow in popularity as well as the college players get an opportunity to "graduate" to the next level. I recently attended my first WNBA game when the LA Sparks visited the Atlanta Heat and had a great time. The attendance seemed to be a lot of Tennessee fans (who came to see Candace Parker play and Pat Head Summit speak after the game), young girls that play basketball and their families, and what appeared to be a sizable lesbian contingent. However, the excitement of the game brought out sone NBA fans and quite a few NBA players (half of which seem to live in Atlanta).

It may be sexist, but I've always believed that the league would be more popular with men if the women playing were more attractive. Just as a lot of women (and probably some gay men) like sports because they find the male players attractive. I can tell you that a lot of black men (and probably other men too) love to watch Serena Williams play not just because she's a great tennis player, but they love to see her body in those little shorts and skirts.

Any man that finds Serena Williams attractive needs their eyes checked or is gay. Her body is too much like a man! I would take one of the Russian babes any day of the week!

As my wife has told me many time, men only have so much time to watch sports! (clean that garrage you bum!), And since there are SO many men sports for men to watch already and where the playing is better, trying to get men to ALSO watch female sports is a long shot.

Now I do watch the WNBA and Parker is the real deal. i.e. she really can play the game, but this is why my garrage is a mess! But really I only watch the Sparks every 2 to 3 games or so while I watch every Lakers game. As you noted the only way to build the fan base is if more women become lesbians!

SWAT Native wrote "It may be sexist, but I've always believed that the league would be more popular with men if the women playing were more attractive. Just as a lot of women (and probably some gay men) like sports because they find the male players attractive." Doubt it. Women like high-paid, high status male athletes with the emphasis on pay and status. The most handsome but worst player will never register for women. Not so for men. As long as the woman it hot, it's no matter whether she's the best of worst player. That's the human mating game. Men will feel some attraction to pretty much every woman, and muscular female athletes really don't fall into that "pretty much" category. Fun to try once, but don't take them home to mom.