It's A League of Their Own all over again.

What's next, skirts with thongs as the uniform?

This is reminding me of that scene in A League of Their Own where they were teaching the women's major league players how to act like "ladies."

It's nice to know we've come so far since the 1940's.

@ellestar: jinx

this sucks. plain and simple. the wnba is marketable because they are amazing bad ass hardcore serious athletes. why doesn't the league aim to show the players as that?

Disgusting. Outright. I'm so sick of everyone having to 'fit' the impossible female gender standard. Shame on WNBA, they are missing the point and reinforcing the notion that people will only watch if they think the athletes are hot. Ick Ick Ick.

Seriously, what year are we in? I really can't believe anyone is going to start following the WNBA based on the players' appearances off the court. There is plenty of talent there for them to market and that's alot more likely to draw people in to actually attend the games. I hate that they make female athletes apologize for their talent by stressing how they still fit into traditional (hetero) gender roles. Depressing.

This is so discouraging and disgusting. A few years ago, I worked in marketing for a women's football team. The league's marketing person paid us a visit and gave some "helpful" hints about how to court the media--including looking pretty, never talking about your sexuality (unless you were a heterosexual and married with kids), and not advertising your "masculine" hobbies. I quit soon after that pep talk.

Everyone beat me to it, but, yeah, A League of Their Own. And that was supposed to be, what? 1940s?

That quote, "They're women first," drives me up the wall. No NBA director would ever discuss their athletes need to improve their image outside of the court in terms of their masculinity. For the WNBA, they are atheletes, first and foremost.

I'm really glad we'll finally learn what kinds of nieces these women are. I find it really hard to concentrate on the games because I'm always wondering what they're like with their aunts and uncles.

Yup, A League of Their Own popped into my head, too.

This sort of thing is to be expected when the WNBA is as unpopular as it is. If we want it to stop, then we need to actually support the league rather than merely name-checking it every now and then.

I totally understand the urge to gang up on the WNBA for trying to make their athletes more girly but coming from someone who used to work for the organization a few years ago, I realize they are just desperate for any sort of attention. Sadly female athletes receive very little respect or attention no matter how hard the WNBA and other women working in sports try to promote them. Perhaps they are trying a new tactic to bring the spotlight on what they are actually doing, which is keeping the dream of sports alive for millions of young women and girls. This might not be my favorite marketing choice for them but I'm hoping the debate about whether they should be femming up the league will put more attention on their athleticism and open up more people to women's pro basketball.

This sort of thing is to be expected when the WNBA is as unpopular as it is. If we want it to stop, then we need to actually support the league rather than merely name-checking it every now and then.

I totally understand the urge to gang up on the WNBA for trying to make their athletes more girly but coming from someone who used to work for the organization a few years ago, I realize they are just desperate for any sort of attention. Sadly female athletes receive very little respect or attention no matter how hard the WNBA and other women working in sports try to promote them. Perhaps they are trying a new tactic to bring the spotlight on what they are actually doing, which is keeping the dream of sports alive for millions of young women and girls. This might not be my favorite marketing choice for them but I'm hoping the debate about whether they should be femming up the league will put more attention on their athleticism and open up more people to women's pro basketball.

I think it would be nice if they asked the players to wear short skirts and dance in between quarters. Hell, maybe they could just ask them to dance throughout the game.. then they hire some guys to play basketball during the dance or something.

...

Seriously, it's nice that the other side is presented in the article via a prof named Susan Ziegler. "Once you begin to worry about how the person looks as opposed to how she plays, you've crossed the line into dangerous play," Ziegler said. "We're not really focused on marketing them as athletes but as feminine objects."

Very frank and refreshing counterpoints, I thought.

Ugh, except in A League of Their Own it was funny.

"You're a woman first," Brown said. "You just happen to play sports."

Isn't that the exact opposite of everything women's sports is supposed to be? Here's what she SHOULD say: "You're athletes first. You just happen to be a woman as well."

I don't know how true this is, but when I was at The University of Iowa (91-93), the rumour was that the Women's Basketball team looked too boyish (ie, like lesbians) and that their coach made them all get thier hair done before games. I remember how they looked playing with this kind of curly salon-fresh styles. I was kind of sad.

It wasn't that long ago that everyone assumed that all female athletes were unfeminine lesbians. Kathrine Switzer got a lot of crap for emphasizing her femininity both on and off the marathon course.

And, yes, unfortunately female athletes who aren't feminine and pretty are usually ignored. They certainly don't get endorsements.

I don't think there's anything wrong with saying "You're a woman first, you just happen to play sports."

The issue is, why does a woman have to wear make-up, apply blush, arc their eyebrows, and be a wife!?

I don't think there's anything wrong with saying "You're a woman first, you just happen to play sports."

The issue is, why does a woman have to wear make-up, apply blush, arc her eyebrows, and be a wife!?

whoops, sorry for the double post

The problem is that they are playing basketball because they are amazing athletes, not because they are ideal women. Male athletes don't have to look a certain way to be taken seriously as an athlete, and it's sad that women are told they have to be pretty. I would think that the marketers would do some serious research to see if the league doesn't have fans because the women aren't pretty enough, or is there another reason. I would think that lack of funding for women's sports, lack of coverage from the media, or being too artificially feminine to be taken seriously as athletes could all contribute a smaller fanbase, but that's just my opinion. And I define artificially feminine as being "girly" or presenting your self in a specific way because you are told to, not because that's who you are.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be at all put off by the NBA working with its players to improve their off court presentation. (Who knows, maybe they are. It has been a decade since I was particularly aware of what was going on in professional athletics. I just know that when I was in high school there was an upswing in Basket Ball players who were serious jerks on and off the court.

I really think they should offer Jason Giambi some of those make-over tips. If anyone needs to be more presentable it's gross male athletes.

The men's NBA includes some image information in its orientation but it sounds more like behavioral than dress:

During a panel on image, the rooks learned how to knot ties courtesy of Sean John. Stu Jackson, executive vice president of basketball operations, stressed the importance of image both on and off the court.

"A poor image can limit sponsors and limit fans," Jackson said. "It's real money, so stay out of trouble."

The emphasis on traditional femininity in this WNBA posts is depressing.

However, as another has said, if you want a women's league to succeed, you should support it by buying tickets.

Actually, I kind of don't doubt that looking "hot" would bring a larger fan base to the WNBA than playing excellent women's basketball. I don't necessarily think that this is the WNBA's fault, I think that it's indicative of a larger social tendency that calls for some reflection. After all, shows about beautiful women (obviously anything with actresses or reality shows like "The Hills" or "Girls Next Door") or about non-beautiful women who become beautiful (i.e. "What Not To Wear" and "America's Next Top Model" to some extent) are probably some of the most-watched shows among the female demographic.

I immediately thought A League of Their Own, Too...

How f'cking bogus and patronizing. It's perfectly possible for someone to celebrate her womanhood without arching her eyebrows - I work inng fashion designer and I know that. WTF??

So the next time one of the boys' leagues hits a ratings slump will they be sent to charm school??

Hmm - that should read "in fashion design". One of these days I'll hit the preview button. Sorry!

Joshua: "I'm really glad we'll finally learn what kinds of nieces these women are. I find it really hard to concentrate on the games because I'm always wondering what they're like with their aunts and uncles."

Seriously!

Also, they're trying to get people interested in what happens on the court... so who cares what these women look like OFF THE COURT? Unless they chose to appear in commercials for a product, once they are off the court, they aren't public commodities. They don't have any kind of obligation (and shouldn't feel pressure!) to wear smudge free eyeliner if they don't want to.

Well, in an effort to boost the ratings of a number of sports, they do profiles of the athletes, where they focus on them as fathers, sons, husbands, etc. They always have them dressed fashionably and looking as masculine as possible. I don't think this is as much of a double standard as it might appear at first glance. My husband (the sports enthusiast in my house) hates those things, and says that they were introduced as a way of getting women interested in the game. :(

a shame they feel the need to do this but its understandable as the WNBA can't stand on its own and desperately needs to expand its audience. They are indeed amazing athletes but they are second-tier at best, hopefully as the result come in from having more girls play sports growing up, more people will pay to watch the wnba.

I don't know about you all, but whenever there is any coverage of the WNBA on mainstream news sources, I am riveted! How can one not be? I am really not interested in competitive sports so I don't usually pay attention to the men's sphere there. But when something still seen as so unusual gets notice on TV, I take notice.

These amazing women sure as hell do not need their hair done or to put on makeup. They are already striking to look at, women of immense strength, health, and vitality making headway into such a sweaty, masculine-dominated arena (at least in terms of professional pay).

Really saddening news, this.

“On the other hand, I wouldn't be at all put off by the NBA working with its players to improve their off court presentation.� - roninkakuhito

Actually, the NBA instituted a fairly strict dress code for players two years ago (still in effect today). A lot of players were pissed, but the league felt it necessary to fight its increasingly problematic image.

“Male athletes don't have to look a certain way to be taken seriously as an athlete� – Voila

I would have to disagree with this statement.

“hopefully as the result come in from having more girls play sports growing up, more people will pay to watch the wnba.� – jamespi

That could happen. Of course, people have been saying the same thing about soccer in the US (the kids playing soccer will grow up to watch soccer) for years with little to show for it.

Since the money made by ABL was the reason the WNBA was formed, maybe the WNBA really needs to look at what that ABL was doing that it's not (like, uh, playing games during basketball season).

Had a pithier comment but it was eaten.

Jeez. Sad.

I especially like how the logic is couched in this same old idea that women being seen as objects is just "the way it is" and "can't be changed": "League President Donna Orender said ... 'I do believe there's more focus on a woman's physical appearance. Men are straight out accepted for their athletic ability. That's reality. I think it's true in every aspect of the work force.'"

Well, how nice. It's good to hear - and from a woman in a frickin' leadership position who is supposed to be *encouraging* and supporting other women - that women are just *screwed* and will never be valued for their personality and intelligence, so they might as well go start taking make-up training classes now.

Thanks for being a dumbass, League President Donna.

Funny, my initial reaction was that this should be adopted by the regular NBA and other men's professional leagues. Teaching people who are enetring a new phase of their lives what is accepted behavior (yes, the way you dress and personal grooming, including makeup, are parts of your behavior) would make the transition for these young professional athletes easier while at the same time increase mainstrean America's acceptance and support of the woman's game.

Shouldn't Ron Artest have been schooled a bit on self presentation before the NBA let him out in public?

Wow!

this one definitely deserves a feminist fuck you.

Maybe we can organize and offer to help WNBA in advertising while letting them know that this is unacceptable.

if we don't help, nothing will change.

Um, P.S., to noname, male athletes' ridiculous and even violent behavior off the court and field is constantly excused and overlooked. I believe there are archived Feministing blogs on some male athletes' coaches' recent excuses for athletes physically assaulting their wives and girlfriends. Please read a bit on the U of Washington football team's rape cover-up committed so they could happily attend the all-important Rose Bowl - you know, because college sports is more important than discouraging violence: http://thecurvature.com/2008/01/29/for-the-love-of-the-game-covering-up-rape-to-win-the-rose-bowl/ .

If only the female athletes were a little more cutting edge and maybe party animals, like those men who are so clever with getting into trouble with the law, people would go to watch them play ball.

I am a major fan of women's basketball especially at the college level...these women are incredible athletes and its ridiculous that they only get recognition when they pose for Playboy. Part of the problem is that most major sports channels don't even air the women's games until practically the final four and the same is true for WNBA. Not only that, but I think there is the larger issue of homophobia within women's basketball to deal with. A large part of the women's basketball fan base are lesbians and a large number of players are lesbians and there seems to be a silencing of this fact from within the league (think back to the whole LSU Pokey Chapman "scandal"). Or at least they are certainly not wanting to acknowledge it. The whole thing is just disgusting.

So, if I want to become a WNBA fan, where do I start?

I've honestly never watched a sporting event, in its entirety, in my whole life.

So, if I want to become a WNBA fan, where do I start?

Toward the top is a ribbon with links to teams, schedules and rosters. The "preseason" (practice games) has already started and the regular season starts May 17. Check the team link to see if there is one in or near your city. The site also appears to have links for live webcasting of certain games if they are not being televised in your area.

If you have not seen a whole basketball game, try going to one live and getting a seat as close to the floor as you can. The closer you get the more you will appreciate their athleticism, power and grace.

I don't think it's entirely true that female athletes have to look stereotypically feminine off the field/court. I follow women's soccer as much as I can and I don't think I've ever seen a commercial for them where they didn't look like they were just about to play a game or had just finished. In fact, there's a series of commercials that they aired during the Women's World Cup that made fun of things like this, especially this one. Or there's the new ad they did for Dodge. Maybe the WNBA needs to hire the company that did those commercials rather than giving their athletes lessons in makeup and crap.

“Um, P.S., to noname, male athletes' ridiculous and even violent behavior off the court and field is constantly excused and overlooked. I believe there are archived Feministing blogs on some male athletes' coaches' recent excuses for athletes physically assaulting their wives and girlfriends. Please read a bit on the U of Washington football team's rape cover-up committed so they could happily attend the all-important Rose Bowl - you know, because college sports is more important than discouraging violence.� – Allegra

This post is about fashion and presentation. The WNBA and NBA both have numerous seminars for rookies on how they should present themselves and stay out of trouble. The NBA takes it a step further with a dress code players must adhere to when at work (arriving, on the sidelines when not dressed to play, ect.).

PS – I know all about the Jerramy Stevens case. I sent it in to the Feministing contact email so they would post it in the first place. I am not sure what, however, that has to do with personal presentation seminars for basketball players.