WNBA Globalization

1. WNBA Globalization
Toriana Easley

2. Article Overview
• WNBA globalization not only allows for individual cultures to
be spread throughout the different places these athletes go,
but it also adds diversity and differences to the game of
basketball.
• The reasoning as well as the way of playing basketball are
completely different in many places.

3. Overview cont.
• Many USA women’s professional basketball players play a full
season in the states and go over seas during the offseason to
earn extra money and improve their game.
• Professional women’s basketball players makes about $36,570
yearly as apposed to professional men’s basketball players,
which creates a emphasis on playing overseas in the offseason
in order to earn money to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

4. Globalization
• Globalization is the transferring or integration of ideas,
culture, beliefs, and ways across the world.
• The WNBA plays a key role in this because they spend time in
other countries playing the game of basketball and
inadvertently change the ways they live everyday life.
• Globalization can occur in many different ways.
-jobs
-media
-technology
-traveling

5. Globalization WNBA
• WNBA players choose whether or not they want to play
overseas during the 6 months offseason.
• Some players are chosen based on ability and years played in
the WNBA
• Professional basketball is played all around the world by
women.
• The most common place for USA women to play is Europe or
China

6. Integration
• The things integrated and transferred in this process are things
as simple as food, clothing, and products you may use in a
everyday lifestyle.
• Some things may be more complex, such as the currency used,
to the values of things, and even the government in different
places.

7. Integration cont.
• Ideas, customs, and beliefs are things that may grow over time
into your everyday lifestyle when being away from your family.
• Your teammates, coaches, and fans often become your family
when traveling across the world.

8. European Basketball
• 16 teams
• Euroleague
• FIBA owned league
• World wide league
• Global interaction
• No college needed to play

9. USA Basketball
• 16 teams
• Have to be cleared by NCAA (National College Athletic
Association)
• Have to attend four years of college
• League only in USA
• Players from all around the world

10. College Basketball
• WNBA recruitment starts early in college. Online and social
coverage is key in order to get a fan base and following for
these future WNBA stars
• Covering college games gives people a glimpse of whats to
come at the professional level.
• Early exposure is key in the process of media coverage for
WNBA players or else no one would know about these
women.

11. Expansion
• 16 teams with a roster of about 14 women on each team
• Most if not all women play overseas during the offseason
• Most women play in countries such as Iceland, Austria,
Hungary, and Greece,
• The WNBA is equal to FIBA Euroleague in other countries
• According to media statistics WNBA has an average of about
455,000 viewers per game

12. Media Coverage
• Globalization occurs with media coverage because WNBA
games are shown all around the world on numerous channels
• The women’s basketball Olympic games are covered on
television which gains viewers as well as WNBA all star games
and WNBA finals tournament
• ESPN 2 and ABC is the mainstream for WNBA games. Local
channels also show WNBA games.

13. Olympic game
• The Olympic games are the games played every four years
which allows each country around the world to compete for a
Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal.
• These games bring attention to famous WNBA players in
which bring a fan base for the regular season.

14. Players from WNBA that play overseas
• Sylvia Fowles
-played for the USA team 3 years
-plays for the Atlanta Dream
-plays in China during the offseason
• Natasha Howard
-plays for Indiana
-plays in Israel during offseason
-from Toledo Ohio

15. Playersfrom overseasthat play in the WNBA
• Ann Wauters
-From Belgium
-Drafted to WNBA
-Plays in different countries during
offseason
• Dalma Ivanyi
-From Hungary
-Drafted to WNBA
-Plays back home in offseason

16. Overseas reliance on WNBA
• In all actuality, WNBA players rely on overseas leagues and
teams to make a living and live comfortably.
• Whereas in other countries they rely on WNBA players to
come make them better in order to have an opportunity to
play in the WNBA against the best of the best.
• Professional womens basketball is one big cycle.

17. Euro Goals vs. USA goal
• European ball is based on donations and ultimate goal is to
win at all cost for themselves, their family, and fans. They have
a strong bond.
• USA ball is commercially owned and the ultimate goal is to win
while making money. They give back to the community to
keep a strong bond.

18. How does globalization affect
the game
• Globalization brings many changes and difference to the game
in many aspects.
• For example: Game times, Season times, Game rules, and
even style of play are transferred and mixed in all around the
world. Also more money is brought to these players.
• Although many things are different all of these women are
brought together for one common goal, which is to play
basketball.

19. Salary
• There is a $750,000 salary cap per team for WNBA players.
• Players go overseas to earn a living.
• The money they make overseas supports their lifestyles and
provides opportunity for endorsements and potential
networks.

20. Questions
• What are some ways for WNBA players to make more money?
• Why is the salary cap so low? And how do you increase it?
• Is it possible to play permanently overseas?
• Who makes decisions of where WNBA players are to play?

21. Works cited
Braille, L. (n.d.). Womens Game Becoming More Worldly. Retrieved
March 03, 2016,
fromhttp://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/features/globalization_070
608.htm
Kaufman, P. (2015, February 18). Everyday Sociology Blog.
Retrieved March 03, 2016, from
http://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2015/02/globalization-
is-the-world-getting-smaller-or-larger.html
Skye, L. (2014, May 11). Impact of globalization on
basketball. Retrieved March 3, 2016, from
http://www.court-
side.com/news/impactofglobalizationonbasketball/