2008 in review: WNBA.

http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-in-review-wnba.html

2008 gave the WNBA had more mainstream attention than any year in
recent memory -- but not always for the right reasons.

Candace Parker figured prominently in the WNBA in 2008. On the court,
the former Tennessee star became the first rookie in league history to
win the MVP Award. The ratings for her first pro game were up 60% from
the comparable game a year earlier. She dunked twice during the
season, getting the WNBA some rare television highlights in the
process, and helped lead Los Angeles back from the worst record in the
West to the playoffs.

But Parker got her most attention for one incident in late July.
During a game between Parker's Sparks and the Detroit Shock on July
22, physical play between Parker and Plenette Pierson escalated into
Parker wrestling Pierson to the ground. That sparked the biggest brawl
in the history of the WNBA. During the melee that ensued, Shock
assistant coach Rick Mahorn shoved Lisa Leslie to the ground, and
received a punch to the back of the head from Leslie's teammate,
Delisha Milton-Jones.

The fight was talked about throughout the blogosphere -- and the
mainstream press as well. From ESPN.com to, of all places, The Today
Show, people were talking about the WNBA. But while the WNBA finally
had America's attention, it was for a sideshow instead of basketball.

The attention did not last. By the WNBA Finals in October, very few
were paying attention as the Shock swept their way to their third WNBA
title. Still, the league is hoping at least some will remember the
fight next season; the lone WNBA regular season game on ABC in 2009
matches the Shock and Sparks.

While the WNBA brawl was easily the biggest story of the year in terms
of national attention, one offseason move that slipped under the radar
may have the biggest long-term impact on the league.

During the Olympic break, Houston Comets owner Hilton Koch put the
team up for sale. The league was not able to find a buyer for the most
successful franchise in its history, and in December, the Comets
disbanded.

Though other WNBA teams have folded, the demise of the Comets is
particularly notable. The Comets are the only WNBA team to fold after
winning a Championship. More importantly, the Comets won the first
four titles in league history, and were the face of the WNBA during
its formative years. If even the Comets could not survive, what does
that say about the rest of the teams in the league?

2008 was a year when the shotlight shined on the WNBA in positive and
very negative ways. In 2009, the league may see the light dim
somewhat, as it deals with a pair of unlucky thirteens: only thirteen
national television appearances, the fewest in league history, and
only thirteen teams.