Listen up WNBA, sex sells

Must a women's professional sports league have sex appeal to thrive in today's culture? Notice I said thrive. The WNBA is surviving. Women's tennis and golf leagues are surviving. I wouldn't say any of them are anywhere close to the level of the NBA or even NASCAR, right now. What would it take for a professional women's sports league to reach the level of NASCAR in today's media landscape? Sadly, I think sex appeal has to be part of the deal. It's certainly not fair. There are lots of ugly male athletes who get respect and accolades based solely on their ability to perform, I've seen no evidence unattractive females would get that same opportunity, no matter how athletic and accomplished they are in sports. Before women start yelling, let me say, females are the biggest part of the problem. Women simply don't want to watch other women play sports. It's the society in which we've all grown up. We are programmed to believe men are supposed to be strong and fast and athletic. The stronger, the faster and the more athletic, the better. Women are supposed to be pretty and demure. The prettier and softer, the better. Strength in a woman isn't valued like it is in a man. Men respect female athletes more than women. A lot of men can watch a WNBA game and appreciate the skills we see. Women can watch the same game and poke fun at the way the players look and question their sexuality. Obviously, this is a generalization and there are exceptions. But, if women supported female athletes at the rate they support male athletes, women's sports would be thriving and not just surviving. Since women don't want to watch other women play sports, a professional league would have to attract men. How would a women's league attract male viewers? Call us pigs but we do know what we like. Men like attractive women. Surely that's not a news flash. Women's beach volleyball is a lot more watched during the Olympics than men's beach volleyball. That ain't because women are watching it, either. Say what you want about Anna Kournikova. When she was playing tennis, TV viewership was up. Interest in the sport was up. What would happen if Anna Kournikova played basketball and was one of the top players in the WNBA? You know the answer even if you don't want to admit it. It's unfortunate. But, it's the truth.