Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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June 10, 2008 2:42 PM

WNBA commercial headed to Seattle

Posted by Jayda Evans

They're awful, but the league is making more of those "She wouldn't say that, would you?" commercials -- this time plugging Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Cappie Pondexter into the fold. The league's crew (along with some freelance staff) is at Storm practice now, setting things up. It'll be filmed on the training facility court and aired soon.

The only positive is the use of Pondexter. In case you missed it, she made an in-house commercial for Phoenix and is adorably funny. The baller definitely has personality that the WNBA should tap -- often.

But why in this format? Tell me if I'm off base, but if you're trying to appeal to the "male fan" (which I heard this ad is supposed to do) why point out the bad and try to spin it? I've always been told you don't tell men the negative of what you don't like because then they'll turn their focus to that. Instead, shove the positive in their face and let them make their own assessment.

I had lunch with my uncle this afternoon and he said once he saw Tina Thompson put lipstick on and go play, he was hooked. I'm against sexualizing the women to draw fans, too, but there has to be a happy medium. Like if it's natural, as it is with Thompson or Lisa Leslie, then go for it. Anything is better than what they're prepping to film.

The WNBA used Detroit F Cheryl Ford, Indiana F Tamika Catchings, and Los Angeles rookie Candace Parker in the original launch. Here's Parker's version: