Part 5/6:
The Broader Implication for Women's Basketball
Unrivaled represents an essential experiment at attempting to monetize women’s basketball, an area that has historically faced challenges in securing financial stability. Despite the WNBA setting record ratings, it sustained a significant loss of $50 million, underscoring the difficulty in curating a sustainable economic model.
Both the WNBA and Unrivaled seek to break through barriers, yet they continue to struggle with audience engagement. How much longer will networks like TNT support a league that struggles to attract substantial viewership, especially when compared to other leagues that generate robust revenues and extensive fan engagement?