by Ethan Johnson
October 9, 2008

That's a wrap for the 2008 WNBA season. How'd it go?

First and foremost, it's worth mentioning that the WNBA is something of a matinée feature while - take your pick - a) the NBA is between seasons, or b) the international women's basketball leagues are between seasons. What the NBA is for the men, the international leagues are for the women. The WNBA gives domestic audiences an opportunity to see top female players like Candace Parker or Becky Hammon without a passport. Therefore, I think the WNBA will be constrained by this arrangement for the foreseeable future, which means enjoy what they're offering, but keep expectations low about taking it to the "next level".

I didn't watch the Finals. Partly because neither New York nor LA made the cut. I would have tuned in to see if San Antonio could provide meaningful resistance, but Detroit swept them, and Katie Smith got her sweet revenge: A championship, and Finals MVP. That might make up for not winning Defensive Player of the Year.

Playoff attendance was LOUSY. Connecticut aside, which plays in a venue that seats less than 10,000, the first team to break the 10,000 barrier during the playoffs was New York. And that was during the conference finals. 7,000+ was the norm across the board. Really? We can put to rest the myth that people love a winner, and flock to any sort of championship game. Detroit took Game 3 in front of 8900+ fans.

I really hoped that the finals would have featured LA vs NY. The San Antonio buzzer-beater that denied LA a sweep spelled doom. It shouldn't have, with Candace Parker et al on the roster, but pushing Game 3 at home in San Antonio with the finals in sight is a bad idea. And that played out for the history books. As for NY, Pat Coyle should be fired for her incredibly awful decision making in Game 2, but probably will be back next season. Despite this, I'd really like to travel to NYC next year and catch a home game.

I don't think it's fair to toss around the label "Jordan-esque", because there's only one Michael Jordan, nobody else comes close, the end. But. Candace Parker was expected to vie for this label. In fact, if I had to give some sort of "most like Mike" award, I'd give it hands down to Seattle's Sue Bird. Despite getting canned in the first round, Sue Bird displayed the attitude (and fortitude) that said "if we lose, it won't be because I phoned it in." Perhaps Candace Parker will really come into her own next year - and the international season should help - but she didn't seem to have room on her shoulders to carry the team when it needed her most.

For my money, there is no greater joy than seeing Leilani Mitchell drive the lane. Everything about her screams "too small, too inexperienced, too far out of her league," and then she throws herself at Candace Parker, or drives the lane and sends a player into the front row. Game Notes of Doooooom said it all: Don't fuck with the bunny. She should have t-shirts made. (Ooooh! Maybe I should get a shirt with this design on the front, and "Mitchell 23" on the back. I'd wear that in public. Hmmm, looks like this shirt is the closest to the mark, official-style.)

Anyway, I'm glad I made the time to follow the WNBA this year. I found fresh interest in the mechanics of basketball, acquired new heroes and mentors, met new people (RSS feed style), and am looking forward to next year. Hopefully they can break that 10,000 average attendance barrier. Meetcha back here next year. <EM>

(The full WNBA archive may be found here.)