WNBA uses crowdsourcing to pick new name for Tulsa

I was impressed when I visited the WNBA Facebook Fan page today. They’re using crowdsourcing techniques to have the audience pick the next name for the new team in Tulsa, Arizona. This is what I saw:

 

Very cool. This type of technique makes me feel engaged. There’s a direct call to action, and I feel like I’m a part of this “naming” process. Looks like other fans enjoyed this functionality as well (92 comments, 142 people “liking” the post by showing their support).

When you click the bit.ly link (smart to use Bit.ly because you can literally track the link’s performance in a variety of networks), you’re brought to a WNBA page and asked to fill in some personal information (a little too much personal information, but I was willing since I respect their organization).

Then, I could vote. I picked Tulsa Tempo. Who would you pick?

Note: This blog post is part of a series discussing my experiences with social media as they relate to advocacy issues that highly affect the women’s sport sphere. This is an assignment for a class I’m enrolled in as part of John’s Hopkins University’s Digital Communications program.

WNBA Champions Video: Phoenix Mercury

… in case you missed it live last week, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury won their second title in three years. Excellent accomplishment, and performed in front of a packed house. The video below tells the story.

ESPN’s Nancy Lieberman told me, “It was fantastic. Our ratings went through the roof.”

Congratulations to the WNBA for a truly special season.

We expected great, and that’s exactly what we got.

Can’t wait for next season.

How to increase attendance to women’s basketball games

The other day, I received an interesting question from a reader of WomenTalkSports.com. The individual, a college student, said:

“I’m working on a project to increase attendance at a women’s basketball tournament. Because this is your specialty, I was hoping you could offer any available tips or resources you’ve encountered on the best way to achieve this.”

To be completely honest, I didn’t know a good answer to give him. My personal feeling, as an ex-college basketball player, is that it’s a complex issue that involves many social, cultural, athletic talent and (obviously) financial factors.

Stumped, I crowdsourced the question to my fellow bloggers of the WomenTalkSports community and tweeted the question via twitter.com/womentalksports.

Below are some of the responses I received. What are your thoughts? Interested in continuing this conversation, as many of my friends found it worthwhile to answer.

Question: What are some ways to increase attendance to women’s college basketball games?

Answers….

@loisheilig: “That is a tough question. But if there were more games on TV someone might
watch & decide they would like to go see one. And keep the prices down.”

Sports Girl Kat: (speaking from her personal experience): “Giveaways such as such as iPod Touches, a pair of Red Sox tickets, gift certificates, and a semester’s worth of textbooks.” “T-shirts, free popcorn and soda, as well as competitions between students.”Have a student DJ spin between warm-ups and the game. Dare really popular students to bring as many friends as possible – if they bring 15, they get a coupon for several pizzas. Find out what your non-sports fans will come out to an non-sporting event for, and offer that inconjunction with a basketball game.”

Jayda Evans: (speaking with WNBA perspective) “I would have thought the W’s Live Access would helped, but only a few games aired without constant buffering. If you can’t get coverage, you have to see the product to develop some sort of connection that pulls you to the arena. I’d also say more weekend matchups and probably day-time starts during true summer months. More families can attend games without disrupting kids’ sleep sked. Lastly, I’d say drop some prices down or offer more perks with the ticket. Even college ball in some areas are trying to entice and people love free stuff or the feeling of getting a real good deal.”

Read more

WNBA playoffs begin September 16

Great video from the WNBA. Watch the playoffs!!

My night at the Liberty game… and you’re invited to a discount, too

“AND HERE ARE YOUR NEW YORK LIBERTYYYYY!”  Those words by the announcer got the crowd rockin’ Thursday night at Madison Square Garden as the New York Liberty hosted the Washington Mystics.  This post will tell you a little about my experience and gives a great offer for an experience of your own.

I have to admit, last night’s game was only my second WNBA game and coincidentally, it was my second Liberty game.  I had courtside tickets for the first time ever, thanks to a recent contest on WomenTalkSports.com.  After last night I realized that everyone sitting around me who were also court side, seemed to all know each other.

It was like the court side fraternity.  No wonder all the celebrities hang out there, it’s a great place to be!  Fans were high-fiving each other and talking to the players each time they’d run down the court.

Speaking of fans, upon first glance, the only one-third filled Garden didn’t seem too intimidating, but I have to say, once the game started those loyal fans can really make some noise.  Although the majority of the first half the Liberty were taking quite the beating, the crowd would still cheer like crazy when something went their way.

Read more

5 reasons female athletes should engage online

If you’re a female athlete (or you represent female athletes), I have provided five key reasons you should get online and start talking about your life, your sport, and maybe even your brand.

1) You’re creating and controlling your own voice. Today, athletes can no longer rely on traditional media to cover their stories and extend their brands. Instead, I’m afraid you have to do it on your  own, ladies. Some of you are doing it really, really well. Even when you  get cut.

Take for instance Chantelle Anderson who tried out for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and got cut. She, prior to getting cut, not only created a name for herself by blogging on Yardbarker, but also continues to voice her opinions about the situation  to a huge audience of followers. Personally (and I know this is not right) but I think the Dream should have kept her, in addition to her talent, she has a following that (maybe) could have transitioned into ticket sales and increased attention, something the struggling league desparately needs.

Read more

Twitter: A huge hit in sports, especially for women

When Jayda Evans of the Seattle Times called me a few weeks ago and asked me what I thought about Twitter’s role in the future of women’s sports, I told her that it could only be a good thing.

Jayda, a Seattle Times blogger and writer, later published an article titled “Sports go mad for online pastime with Twitter.”

I love how Jayda wrote this article. Instead of focusing upon huge Twitter celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal and Lance Armstrong, she gave some credit to the ladies who have recently been stepping up to the plate, including Natalie Gulbis (@natalie_gulbis) and over 13 WNBA players. Read more

Fair pay and athletics: The gender disparities continue to loom

This post is part of an initiative by the National Women’s Law Center in honor of Equal Pay Day — “voices are rising up across the web in support of fair pay for women.” All day, they’ll be promoting blog posts about fair pay and tweets with the hashtag #fairpay.

The reason today is Equal Pay Day: April 28, 2009 marks the day when the average woman’s wages will finally catch up with those paid to the average man in 2008 (note – that was last year). Here’s where you can find state-by-state data on the wage gap.

So what can you to help? Well, if you’re a blogger, register here and blog about it. If you’re not (or you don’t want to), then urge your Senators to support the Paycheck Fairness Act.

In keeping with my theme, I wanted to share some interesting information about fair pay in athletics. Some may think that these days, women get paid “very similar” or even “close to” men. But that’s hardly the case, as you can see… Read more

(Podcast) WNBA’s Chantelle Anderson: blogging about female athletes, lesbians and her image in the sports industry

On Friday, I conducted one of my favorite interviews – an informed telephone conversation with Chantelle Anderson who plays for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.

Chantelle touched on many different points in this interview, but this discussion was not centered upon her role on the court.

Instead, it’s formulated around some of the topics that Chantelle has brought up off the court on her blog, and they have to do with the image and sexual orientation of modern female athletes. Read more

Attention New York Liberty Fans: Free popcorn, lunch with Kia Vaughn

Attention New York Liberty fans – need reasons to buy tickets to the games?

Here are a few: you can get free popcorn at games at Madison Square Garden, and if you buy VIP season tickets, you can have lunch with newly-drafted (Rutgers grad) Kia Vaughn. Read more

2009 WNBA Draft: A journey back to my love for women’s basketball

I’ve played basketball my entire life.

Ever since I was little, l knew that I loved the game. From eighth grade all the way through graduation from my NCAA Division III college, I pretty much obsessed over rankings, new prospects and players of the week, desperately trying to mold my role somewhere in the middle of it.

I remember when the WNBA started in 1997. I was 12 years old. It was a really exciting time for women’s sports. I read books written by big names like Pat Summit and Nancy Lieberman, attended basketball camps regularly, and was a subscribed reader to Sports Illustrated for Women. I knew deep down that I wanted to be a part of the future of the game. So I worked very, very hard as a player. Read more

Videos from my first WNBA Draft

Over the next two days, Sarah from Blogher and Draft Day Suit will video blogging with me during our journey to the WNBA Draft. Tune in for more. Looking forward to this!

Next Page »