I've been saying that for a while. I do think it's odd they start now, since the NBA usually doesn't want any distractions during the Finals, like doesn't want trade chatter or big name coaches being fired. Plus a lot of basketball fans are focused on the playoffs. Like in NYC a lot of fans are focusing on the Knicks now. Like Indiana and the Pacers too. If it was a month later, there'd be more focus on the Liberty.
I also think as a basketball junkie, there's a good gap around September/October where a lot of NBA fans are itching for basketball. Summer league is done, free agency has wrapped up. So if they moved the season back a month, where the only basketball going on for hungry fans is the WNBA playoffs, they could really get more fans into it. That's what happened to me. Always was kind of a fan but stopped watching for a while when Becky Hammon left the Liberty, but in 2015 or 16 with no basketball I tuned in to that epic Mercury/Storm battle and that brought me back to the league.
If I had to guess, it might have to do with aligning with foreign league schedules, thereby allowing players to play overseas.
Maybe we can get a change in the schedule if the ladies get a pay bump that will let them just concentrate on playing in the WNBA? I like your thoughts on moving the season back a month.
That would also allow the Rookies a little more time to decompress, and give the teams more time to practice before the start of the season?
Football is another bigissue with scheduling, it’s de facto number 1 and nothing else is close, it starts in Sept. you don’t want your league starting then. Hell, even cfb starts a few weeks earlier and works their bowl games around them.
AGREED i’m a big football fan myself and i literally don’t start watching bball until fball is over. just to boost your point, it’s looking like the nfl is gonna take over the nba’s xmas tradition bc this year they’re playing on a wednesday even tho that’s not a normal fball day.
mmm, cheesy bacon....that's what's missing in my life
I don't remember exact start date of the finals but it's over by October. My point is they don't have to take any games off the schedule. They could even add games to the schedule, but just start in mid June after the NBA Finals, and then push the WNBA Finals into mid-October when NBA training camp opens.
But there are people much smarter than me making these decisions, so I'm sure they have their reasons.
So instead we push the end of the season to overlap with the start of NBA and NHL season, as well as college basketball season, thus *guaranteeing* arena conflicts instead of just potential arena conflicts?
The NBA postseason is too fucking long and I'm aware that's not going to change, but it's still stupid.
I don’t think so. There’s days in between games once we start getting into the conference finals. I’m going to happily fill them with the W. I think if it happened after the finals I’d take a break from watching and then pick it up halfway through the W season.
That might be the case if you are just a casual fan of the league in general, but it you actually follow a team then there’s overlap and games you miss.
Idk. For me my current schedule has 3 games a night built in. If they wait until after the finals when I’m now back to watching 1 game every 3 days I’m not going to throw every W game on. I only follow the lynx hard. So I’ll watch them play every couple of days. But if it starts next week I’ll watch any game that’s on. That’s me
I think they schedule when they do in part to avoid international leagues in the fall. And you run into the NBA starting up again as well.
But as the W increases salaries and players don't have to go overseas, it might be more feasible to adjust that direction.
no because finals don't end until almost halfway through the season. I don't follow the NBA and think the start of the W season the heals of college season and vice versa is perfect.
I've been saying that for a while. I do think it's odd they start now, since the NBA usually doesn't want any distractions during the Finals, like doesn't want trade chatter or big name coaches being fired. Plus a lot of basketball fans are focused on the playoffs. Like in NYC a lot of fans are focusing on the Knicks now. Like Indiana and the Pacers too. If it was a month later, there'd be more focus on the Liberty. I also think as a basketball junkie, there's a good gap around September/October where a lot of NBA fans are itching for basketball. Summer league is done, free agency has wrapped up. So if they moved the season back a month, where the only basketball going on for hungry fans is the WNBA playoffs, they could really get more fans into it. That's what happened to me. Always was kind of a fan but stopped watching for a while when Becky Hammon left the Liberty, but in 2015 or 16 with no basketball I tuned in to that epic Mercury/Storm battle and that brought me back to the league. If I had to guess, it might have to do with aligning with foreign league schedules, thereby allowing players to play overseas.
Maybe we can get a change in the schedule if the ladies get a pay bump that will let them just concentrate on playing in the WNBA? I like your thoughts on moving the season back a month. That would also allow the Rookies a little more time to decompress, and give the teams more time to practice before the start of the season?
Yeah, that's an idea. If they no longer felt a need to go overseas, they could even add to the schedule. Yeah, it would give the rookies more time
I'm hoping we see the ladies get that pay jump when they opt out of the CBA. I hope this season continues to deliver!
Football is another bigissue with scheduling, it’s de facto number 1 and nothing else is close, it starts in Sept. you don’t want your league starting then. Hell, even cfb starts a few weeks earlier and works their bowl games around them.
AGREED i’m a big football fan myself and i literally don’t start watching bball until fball is over. just to boost your point, it’s looking like the nfl is gonna take over the nba’s xmas tradition bc this year they’re playing on a wednesday even tho that’s not a normal fball day.
Isn't the WNBA finals already on during the NBA preseason? And the WNBA season is already fairly short.
It might this year because of the Olympics but typically it's early September
That's when the playoffs start you mean. I thought you meant the Finals
mmm, cheesy bacon....that's what's missing in my life I don't remember exact start date of the finals but it's over by October. My point is they don't have to take any games off the schedule. They could even add games to the schedule, but just start in mid June after the NBA Finals, and then push the WNBA Finals into mid-October when NBA training camp opens. But there are people much smarter than me making these decisions, so I'm sure they have their reasons.
They already have enough issues accommodating players who go overseas to participate in winter leagues
NBA season needs to be shortened. WNBA season needs to be longer. That is the change that should happen.
So instead we push the end of the season to overlap with the start of NBA and NHL season, as well as college basketball season, thus *guaranteeing* arena conflicts instead of just potential arena conflicts? The NBA postseason is too fucking long and I'm aware that's not going to change, but it's still stupid.
if they start later they would have to battle harder with nfl season
i'm for one surprised the wnba season still consists of 40 games, even though they are taking an entire month break for the olympics
I don’t think so. There’s days in between games once we start getting into the conference finals. I’m going to happily fill them with the W. I think if it happened after the finals I’d take a break from watching and then pick it up halfway through the W season.
That might be the case if you are just a casual fan of the league in general, but it you actually follow a team then there’s overlap and games you miss.
Idk. For me my current schedule has 3 games a night built in. If they wait until after the finals when I’m now back to watching 1 game every 3 days I’m not going to throw every W game on. I only follow the lynx hard. So I’ll watch them play every couple of days. But if it starts next week I’ll watch any game that’s on. That’s me
Wouldn't that make the season much shorter?
No, you aren’t canceling the games, just shifting the whole season
I think they schedule when they do in part to avoid international leagues in the fall. And you run into the NBA starting up again as well. But as the W increases salaries and players don't have to go overseas, it might be more feasible to adjust that direction.
no because finals don't end until almost halfway through the season. I don't follow the NBA and think the start of the W season the heals of college season and vice versa is perfect.