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Thump In The Morning

Thump In The Morning

Thump In The Morning

The WNBA Is About To See A Positive Change Coming

Author DJ THUMP
The WNBA is need of a serious make-over, and Caitlin Clark is the one to bring the change. All eyes are on the WNBA and rightfully so, because these women are earning their respect.

Good things are about to happen for the WNBA, and I am excited to see what’s what positive change is coming for these women athletes. As the league celebrates its 28th season, I can’t help but look back and think about all the adversity these women had to face.

The WNBA Had A Ruff Start

According to WNBA.com, on April 24, 1996, women’s basketball announced “We Got Next” as the NBA Board of Governors approved the concept of a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to begin play in June 1997. Some people thought women’s professional basketball was a joke and they barely received any support from basketball fans across the globe.

The WNBA struggled as it was often compared to the NBA. I have to admit I was one of those basketball fans who felt that women’s basketball was quite boring. I was looking for the fast pace, acrobatic dunks, and all of the excitement the NBA delivered.

Shaquille O’Neal suggested in an article published by Quinnipiac Chronicle that they lower the rim for the women’s league to bring more excitement with the possibility of seeing some of these girls dunk the ball which would probably bring more fans. Though the WNBA has never seriously considered this change, it will just create more division within a sport where gender bias is the biggest issue.

Ladies Making History In The WNBA

I remember when Lisa Leslie made history as the first woman to dunk in 2002. A four-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time WNBA MVP. She has also been an eight-time WNBA All-Star and has won two WNBA championships (2001, 2002) and two WNBA Finals MVPs (2001, 2002). 

Related Story: Las Vegas Aces Are Making A Big Change

With all of that, the women’s league still struggled to gain fans and sell tickets. I have to say there has been a lot of progress throughout the years, but these women are still getting underpaid, and overlooked.

I am excited to see the positive change happening in the WNBA. Especially here in Las Vegas. According to statista.com, The Las Vegas Aces registered the highest average attendance across the 2023 season with 9,551. Angel Reeves Jersey has sold out completely, and A’ja Wilson has been named the 2023 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for two years in a row. And now the arrival of Caitlin Clark has added even more excitement to the league. It’s the hype that women’s basketball needed.

A Change Has Arrived For The WNBA

The talk around town is a lot of the women in the WNBA is hating on Caitlin Clark for coming into the league with a big shoe deal and all of these endorsements and there have been other women who have been in the league longer and they do not have those things. These arguments can be very true, however, The WNBA had a lot of great players and still struggled to sell tickets. Clark is what the WNBA needs. They need a social media push, someone to push them to get that money and put eyes on the WNBA.

Right now, Caitlin Clark has brought so much attention to the sport, that all I can say is let her do what she’s doing. There will be more shoe deals, major endorsements, and things that will help get these women paid more. And they truly deserve it! 

According to nbcdfw.com Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young is alone at the top, making $252,420 a year going into 2024. The salaries are low because of the revenue generated. NBCDFW also reports that the NBA recently generated an estimated $10 billion for one season. The WNBA reportedly came in around $200 Million for 2023, but it’s a figure that has been gradually growing.

Caitlin Clark is what Michael Jordan did for the NBA. Although Jordan went on to be arguably one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, his rookie contract didn’t reflect that. According to Sportskeeda.com, in 1984, Jordan signed his Rookie deal worth $6.3 million over seven years, with an annual salary of $455,000. He wasn’t the highest-paid player, Spotrac.com reports that Patrick Ewing was the highest-paid player at that time. It was Michael Jordan who put eyes on the NBA. When Jordan came, he saved the NBA. More viewers, more money. And that’s what’s about to happen to the WNBA with Caitlin Clark.

Marlon "DJ Thump" Rice is a morning show host on Jammin’ 105.7 "Thump In The Morning!" He has been with the station for the past six years and has been inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame class of 2019. DJ Thump has toured with R&B legend Al B. Sure! As his music director. As a content creator for Jammin’ 105.7, DJ Thump writes articles on sports, preferably the Las Vegas Raiders and the world champion Las Vegas Aces. DJ Thump writes about the local community (which he is heavily involved in) as well as local Black-owned businesses.

Welcome To Win City Las Vegas

Sin City Las Vegas has been known for it’s tourism, gambling, and bright lights. You know the saying…”What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Well as of lately, Sin City has turned into “Win City”. The Defending Champions Las Vegas Aces, Founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz before the league’s inaugural 1997 season. Then moved to San Antonio, Texas before the 2003 season and became the San Antonio Silver Stars, later shortened to the San Antonio Stars in 2014.

The team relocated to Las Vegas before the 2018 season and won 2 conference titles and a WNBA championship. And the way things are looking, they will repeat this year.

And of course a huge congratulations to our Las Vegas Golden Knights for bringing home the Stanley Cup. beating the Florida Panthers 4 games to 1. This is the eighth time these two teams have met this season. Overall , The Florida Panthers have a record of 4-5-1 versus the Golden Knights . Jack Eichel has 27 goals and 39 assist prior to the final game. Jonathan Marchessault has also been a great contributor to the team with eight goals and six assist to help the Knights get to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Unfortunately the  Golden Knights’ incredible season had ended with a 4-3 loss in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final  to the Washington Capitals in 2017-18.

Earning their way back to the Stanley cup finals this season, The Golden Knights have added another championship to the Vegas Valley. So the saying “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” has a whole new meaning. No longer will Las Vegas be known as Sin City. With the Las Vegas Aces And The Las Vegas Golden Knights, we are now considered Win City!

According to sportingnews.com “The exact parade route for the Golden Knights has not been revealed, however it’s expected  to follow the same path as the Aces.”

If we could only get the Las Vegas Raiders to bring Las Vegas a championship… That looks like that may take a few more seasons.

  • Watch The Las Vegas Aces win 2022 WNBA Finals

  • Watch The Las Vegas Aces 2022 WNBA Finals Trophy Ceremony

  • Watch The Las Vegas Aces In Historic 2022 WNBA Championship Parade

  • watch Golden Knights Game 4 Mic'd Up

  • The Stanley Cup Will Be In The Building For Game 5, Watch And Get Hyped

  • Watch The Golden Knights Win The 2022-2023 Stanley Cup

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