WNBA Warns Sophie Cunningham The League Will Fold If Only Women Are Allowed To Play
League officials for the WNBA warned Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham that if men were not allowed to play women's sports, the league would immediately fold.
Cunningham made waves this week by stating her belief that men should not be playing in women's sports leagues, but the WNBA cautioned that their entire business model depends on it.
"We'd be gone tomorrow," said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "I understand Sophie's desire to protect young women, and I personally admire her spirit. However, she needs to understand that we only have seven female players in the whole league. Well, there might be eight, there's one we honestly aren't really sure about. Regardless, we couldn't even form two teams of women. We would all be out of a job."
Despite the league's warnings, Cunningham has doubled down on her views about men playing women's sports. "I understand it would be a big change for the WNBA to just have female players, but I think it would be great for the sport," said Cunningham. "I truly believe that more people would watch if all of the players were women."
At publishing time, a survey of male sports fans had confirmed Cunningham's suspicion that they would indeed be more likely to watch the WNBA if all of the players looked more like Sophie Cunningham.
Cunningham made waves this week by stating her belief that men should not be playing in women's sports leagues, but the WNBA cautioned that their entire business model depends on it.
"We'd be gone tomorrow," said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. "I understand Sophie's desire to protect young women, and I personally admire her spirit. However, she needs to understand that we only have seven female players in the whole league. Well, there might be eight, there's one we honestly aren't really sure about. Regardless, we couldn't even form two teams of women. We would all be out of a job."
Despite the league's warnings, Cunningham has doubled down on her views about men playing women's sports. "I understand it would be a big change for the WNBA to just have female players, but I think it would be great for the sport," said Cunningham. "I truly believe that more people would watch if all of the players were women."
At publishing time, a survey of male sports fans had confirmed Cunningham's suspicion that they would indeed be more likely to watch the WNBA if all of the players looked more like Sophie Cunningham.
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