Fundamentals, diversity and higher stakes all reasons fans prefer the WNBA over NBA

With the ongoing conversation around lower NBA viewership along with the surge in WNBA popularity, we asked fans WHY they like watching WNBA hoops over the NBA. The responses were clear: the NBA needs to change.

With NBA All-Star happening this past weekend, as well as the ongoing conversations about NBA ratings and excitement going on in general, I had a thought. It’s interesting how the NBA and general fan excitement seems to be decreasing, while heading in the opposite trajectory on the women’s basketball side of things.

Think about it — the WNBA is experiencing record viewership and attendance records, and excitement is growing. So, what are basketball fans finding in women’s basketball that the NBA isn’t providing them?

Out of pure curiosity, I decided to ask the question on X: If you’re a fan of basketball, watch both the NBA and WNBA, and favour the W — why? What is the WNBA doing that the NBA seems to be missing out on?

Now, I also understand that the NBA and WNBA are at two very different stages in their lifespan, and I am also not here to declare one superior over the other. The reality is, they are two very different brands of basketball. The culture is different. Yet, it’s interesting how we are at this crossroads of the WNBA experiencing so much hype and the NBA is struggling to retain viewers. Could the NBA learn anything from the WNBA?

I seem to underestimate my own reach sometimes, because my little tweet generated a ton of responses. Which is so fun, because now we have a lot of data and response to work off of. After surfing through the responses, here are some of the main takeways:

The Fundamentals of Basketball

Many of the responses expressed the fact that the WNBA’s style of play focuses more on fundamental basketball. The WNBA values defence a lot more, creating a need for more creative game play. Many fans expressed the “boring” nature of a defence-less NBA playing that leads to inflated scores and an emphasis on perimeter shooting. This tends to lead to a faster game pace, which a lot of the responses also pointed out.

In the same vein, many expressed that individually the WNBA’s players have more advanced basic skills. Maybe the NBA’s skills contest this year was proof of that. Things like screening, passing, rebounding, handles, and all of the fundamentals they teach kids in youth basketball are seen more in women’s basketball, according to fans.

So, could the NBA benefit from going back to basics a little?

Higher Stakes

Another popular response was that the WNBA’s shorter season means that every game means more, the stakes are higher. Now that the NBA has 82 regular season games, there are often many games that don’t really mean anything to the grand scheme of a team’s season. Strategic tanking is rampant, while teams in the WNBA don’t truly need to “tank” at the level that NBA teams do.

Fans expressed the fact that you can turn on a WNBA game on any random day and the game is close and high stakes. The standings on every level are so close that every game matters so much more. At the top of the standings, at the playoff cutoff mark, and for lottery teams. The difference between a playoff team and a lottery team is often just one win or loss.

That general day-to-day excitement seems to be something fans value. Does the NBA need to implement a shorter season?

More Talent Concentration

Until 2025, the WNBA only had 144 available roster spots for a long time. That led to teams only having 12 roster spots, and a lot of teams would play with 11 players to save on cap space. Due to that, the talent concentration in the league was (and is) extremely high.

In recent history, even first round draft picks were not guaranteed a roster spot. The 2021 no.1 draft pick isn’t even in the league anymore because there just isn’t roster room to develop young players. If you fall short, get injured, or aren’t contributing — you risk losing your spot.

It takes many players years and many different teams to find a solid spot in the league. All of this to say, you have to be a top-player in the World to make it in the WNBA. This makes every team competitive and every game a battle. “Lottery” teams in the WNBA are still capable of playing elite basketball.

This one is a balance, because the way the NBA is able to develop and find talent is fantastic. Many players come up through the G-League and get chances through two-way spots. Still, fans expressed the concentration of talent as a big reason they enjoy watching the WNBA over the NBA.

Ongoing Activism and Representation

It’s a known fact across the board in women’s sports that these leagues tend to be more intersectional in their diversity than men’s sports. While the NBA is certainly an ethnically diverse league, it lacks the intersectionality that makes the WNBA so much more diverse. Many fans who prefer the WNBA said that being able to not only see themselves in these players, but that the differences are celebrated was a big reason they prefer the WNBA.

The WNBA has been at the forefront of politics, activism, and just generally speaking out for a long time. It was one of the first leagues to hold Pride nights, and the players do not shy away from the criticism that can come from speaking up. This is because many of the league’s players are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and even the ones who aren’t are open in their support. There is none of stigma that exists in men’s sports.

Even when the NBA does speak up about things, it rarely feels genuine. Sure, you care about women’s rights — but continue to employ people who have been criminally charged with domestic violence charges? Sure.

While a lot of the push back that comes from men’s leagues players on things like pride nights is masked as religious doctrine, that doesn’t even hold up in women’s basketball. The WNBA’s level of religious affiliation seems to be equal with that of the NBA’s — and still theya re so much more open in their support.

The WNBA’s activism just feels ingrained into everything the league and players do. It’s not corporate, because it’s these players’ real lives. Activism in the NBA (for the most part) feels more like an contractual obligation according to fans.

Passion and Love of the Game

A common response to my social media posts was that fans enjoyed the WNBA more because it seemed like the players play with more passion. The WNBA is inherently more physical, players show a ton of emotion and energy on the court.

Again, maybe this has to do with the higher day-to-day stakes of the WNBA in comparison to the NBA. Some responses also expressed that it seems like W players play for team wins vs individual stats as well. Many responses reflected on the unity it feels like WNBA teams have as opposed to NBA teams. Could it be because men are just more subdued in their expression of team unity?

This one made me think about the current Toronto Raptors team. They are losing, but I have never seen an NBA team have so much chemistry. Darko even said that when I asked him about it before the All-Star break — that he had never been a part of such a connected team.

Seeing your team ride for each other definitely increases fan morale — do NBA players need to be more outward with their emotions? Are they too tired from an 82-game season + playoffs to care about that?

Storytelling, and DRAMA of course

An interesting and fair take from many fan responses was the more intentional and pure storytelling that happens in the WNBA. The need to advocate for their own league often means WNBA players are more open to speaking to media, which in hand leads to a open flow of storytelling. Fans connect to those things, being able to get “behind the scenes” looks at their teams. It’s probably why Open Gym was so revolutionary.

Storytelling is such a key part of sports, and I’m not making that point just because I am a media member. Media that gets lost in the x’s and o’s lacks the nuance that makes fans fall in love with the game. Sure, basketball is fun and there is definitely a place for x’s and o’s — yet fans want to feel a connection to their team. That veil is thinner in women’s sports, fans feel a degree closer to WNBA players than to NBA players, based on these responses.

That also somewhat goes back to intersectionality as well — women’s sports have the romantic drama. Players are openly in relationships with other teammates, they break-up and make-up and sometimes it effects team moves. Maybe bad for a locker room but thrilling from a fan perspective.

I can’t link Instagram comments here, but I had one comment that simply said they liked the WNAB more because “lesbians.” So, clearly the representation does matter a lot!

Not going to say that doesn’t fully exist in the NBA (side eye emoji), but they are certainly NOT open about it. Maybe if there wasn’t so much stigma…

---

There’s a lot to sort through here. Yet, on a base level, there are things the NBA could take from these responses and implement to engage fans more.

• Less focus on the corporate aspects of the league, leaning into the genuine relationships and stories more.
• Become better advocates, reduce the stigma on certain topics in the league, and start turning meaningless words and campaigns into actual action.
• Debate the idea of a shorter season
• Find genuine ways to raise stakes on a day-to-day level
• Encourage a fundamental style of play on the court that emphasizes defence.
• Not just more access for media, but an innovative approach to access that finds the balance between intriguing storytelling without overstepping player boundaries.

What do you think? Would the NBA work towards any of these goals, or just let fans continue to get bored of their product?