Help me sports!
August 8, 2019 10:19 AM Subscribe
My entire life, I never liked any professional sports - I've fallen asleep at professional sports games when I've gone with friends or for work events. UNTIL last year, when my roommate invited me to go see the Chicago Sky WNBA team! I've been obsessed ever since. Now what do I do when they are not playing?
I don't know exactly what it is, but I find women's professional basketball completely compelling - the personalities, the improvisation, the athleticism. It's so exciting! Last year I just started learning the rules and getting to know the Sky.
This year I'm a season ticket holder and I've started streaming games, as I get to know some of the players on other teams (Erika Wheeler! Kayla McBride! Brittney Griner!). I love all the aspects of it - paying attention to the standings, keeping track of the player stats, and especially going to the live games.
I feel a kind of excitement and engagement during the WNBA season that's very missing in the rest of the year... which brings me to my question...
- What can I do during the off-season to keep up this level of enjoyment? Are there any particular college basketball franchises that are fun to follow? Any near Chicago? Should I get into high school basketball or is that creepy? Are there any particular athletes I could follow?
- Should I start following European basketball, since most WNBA players have to play there in the off-season? How can I watch those games? I especially want to see Ekaterinburg play since both Allie Quigley and Courtney VanderSloot will be on that team.
- Is there anything I can do to help them get paid more, aside from buying season tickets and hounding my friends and coworkers to go? It's total BS that the 144 best basketball players in the world get $50k a year.
Please keep answers limited to women's basketball.
I don't know exactly what it is, but I find women's professional basketball completely compelling - the personalities, the improvisation, the athleticism. It's so exciting! Last year I just started learning the rules and getting to know the Sky.
This year I'm a season ticket holder and I've started streaming games, as I get to know some of the players on other teams (Erika Wheeler! Kayla McBride! Brittney Griner!). I love all the aspects of it - paying attention to the standings, keeping track of the player stats, and especially going to the live games.
I feel a kind of excitement and engagement during the WNBA season that's very missing in the rest of the year... which brings me to my question...
- What can I do during the off-season to keep up this level of enjoyment? Are there any particular college basketball franchises that are fun to follow? Any near Chicago? Should I get into high school basketball or is that creepy? Are there any particular athletes I could follow?
- Should I start following European basketball, since most WNBA players have to play there in the off-season? How can I watch those games? I especially want to see Ekaterinburg play since both Allie Quigley and Courtney VanderSloot will be on that team.
- Is there anything I can do to help them get paid more, aside from buying season tickets and hounding my friends and coworkers to go? It's total BS that the 144 best basketball players in the world get $50k a year.
Please keep answers limited to women's basketball.
I would pick a Big Ten team or an ACC team because ESPN will broadcast (and more often stream) games. If you are in the Chicagoland area, Huffy Puffy makes two good suggestions. Also consider DePaul or UIC. Other national powers include UConn, South Carolina, Tennessee.
posted by AugustWest at 10:40 AM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by AugustWest at 10:40 AM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
For the year-round bit, there's always fantasy league. I'm not sure there's a deeper rabbit hole for fans.
posted by jquinby at 11:06 AM on August 8, 2019
posted by jquinby at 11:06 AM on August 8, 2019
SBNation WNBA page. Probably the easiest onRecent article: "It's Time to Join the Chicago Sky Bandwagon". :)
The Big Ten also has its own TV network, creatively called the Big Ten Network. So in addition to all the games shown on ESPN, you can see nearly every game for every team there. It should be part of your basic cable package in Chicago.
The Sky currently has two Big Ten alumna on the roster: Kaleah Copper (Rutgers, who's usually a pretty good team) and Jantel Lavender (Ohio State, who's not, but happens to be my alma mater), if that helps you pick a team.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:06 AM on August 8, 2019
The Big Ten also has its own TV network, creatively called the Big Ten Network. So in addition to all the games shown on ESPN, you can see nearly every game for every team there. It should be part of your basic cable package in Chicago.
The Sky currently has two Big Ten alumna on the roster: Kaleah Copper (Rutgers, who's usually a pretty good team) and Jantel Lavender (Ohio State, who's not, but happens to be my alma mater), if that helps you pick a team.
posted by kevinbelt at 11:06 AM on August 8, 2019
I'd say in terms of powerhouses, "franchise" type schools you're looking at UConn and Notre Dame. It's also the best current women's basketball rivalry. In terms of Chicago, DePaul usually has a pretty good team and Doug Bruno is a great coach. There's a ton of parity in women's basketball right now, so I'd just try to watch a few games and pick a team whose style you like. You can most likely find a good number of past games on YouTube if you want to do some preseason homework.
I believe a lot of the Euroleague games are streamed, although probably not in English and possibly on dubious websites.
posted by ellebee at 11:25 AM on August 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
I believe a lot of the Euroleague games are streamed, although probably not in English and possibly on dubious websites.
posted by ellebee at 11:25 AM on August 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
What can I do during the off-season to keep up this level of enjoyment?
I love following athletes on Instagram-- it is offseason for my preferred sport right now, but at least I can watch them all doing ridiculous workouts and going to silly sports-adjacent events together. Also, I don't know too much about the WNBA, but I follow a some WNBA players and their partners from my local team because they are all so fun and cool and involved in the city. They also have adventures with each other and each other's kids, sometimes, which is nice if you like "team as found family" narratives. It is a fun way to scratch the itch, at least partially!
posted by a fiendish thingy at 11:27 AM on August 8, 2019
I love following athletes on Instagram-- it is offseason for my preferred sport right now, but at least I can watch them all doing ridiculous workouts and going to silly sports-adjacent events together. Also, I don't know too much about the WNBA, but I follow a some WNBA players and their partners from my local team because they are all so fun and cool and involved in the city. They also have adventures with each other and each other's kids, sometimes, which is nice if you like "team as found family" narratives. It is a fun way to scratch the itch, at least partially!
posted by a fiendish thingy at 11:27 AM on August 8, 2019
UMMC Ekaterinburg: official Twitter page and YouTube channel
posted by ringu0 at 11:35 AM on August 8, 2019
posted by ringu0 at 11:35 AM on August 8, 2019
We go to high school women’s bball games, I would think they would assume any adults at the game would be parents. Yay, as the mother of two young women basketball players I love the enthusiasm!
posted by gryphonlover at 11:44 AM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by gryphonlover at 11:44 AM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Out of curiousity, i looked into tickets for Northwestern, knowing how cheap womens' bball tickets are where i live.
You can get season tickets for 49.00 per seat. I don't know how great of seats they are and you might prefer to splurge on one big game and get a courtside seat or something, but really, that is a bargain for some quality entertainment. I haven't been to a Northwestern game but i have been to an OU game back in the Courtney/Ashley Paris days and it was fun! Bands! Cheerleaders! Some wacky guy spinning plates as a half time act! Popcorn!
I also second following your favorite athletes on social media.
posted by domino at 12:33 PM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
You can get season tickets for 49.00 per seat. I don't know how great of seats they are and you might prefer to splurge on one big game and get a courtside seat or something, but really, that is a bargain for some quality entertainment. I haven't been to a Northwestern game but i have been to an OU game back in the Courtney/Ashley Paris days and it was fun! Bands! Cheerleaders! Some wacky guy spinning plates as a half time act! Popcorn!
I also second following your favorite athletes on social media.
posted by domino at 12:33 PM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
And if you lived in a rural area like i do, i would suggest high school basketball, specifically small school state tournaments. There are some true dynasties in some tiny one horse towns out there and the entire town shuts down and about half of them wear tutus to those state championship games.
posted by domino at 12:36 PM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by domino at 12:36 PM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
You absolutely should be made aware of the women's basketball team at the University of Connecticut, whose dominance in college basketball has spanned multiple decades.
All the funnier to me - I grew up the next town over and UConn is seriously in like the middle of the ass of nowhere and yet it's got that and the country's only MFA program in Puppetry because Eastern Connecticut is deeply weird
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:37 PM on August 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
All the funnier to me - I grew up the next town over and UConn is seriously in like the middle of the ass of nowhere and yet it's got that and the country's only MFA program in Puppetry because Eastern Connecticut is deeply weird
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:37 PM on August 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
Just in general, if you're not watching women's college basketball, you're missing out (I know you didn't know! :) I say that to everyone who will hold still long enough for me to say so).
In addition to watching powerhouse teams, you might pick a team or two in a smaller conference to watch - for example, we've got some great basketball going on in the SoCon and the games are often broadcast online for anyone to watch.
If we're putting in bids for ACC teams to follow, NCSU had a wicked good run of it there for awhile last year.
Attend your local women's regional championship if it's anywhere nearby you - I'm lucky, the ACC tournament is held in my town, and my dad and I go to the championship game every year. The tickets are way cheaper than they should be and it's so much fun, no matter who is in the game.
Finally, play March Madness with us. Women's side always has way fewer participants. :/
posted by joycehealy at 2:35 PM on August 8, 2019
In addition to watching powerhouse teams, you might pick a team or two in a smaller conference to watch - for example, we've got some great basketball going on in the SoCon and the games are often broadcast online for anyone to watch.
If we're putting in bids for ACC teams to follow, NCSU had a wicked good run of it there for awhile last year.
Attend your local women's regional championship if it's anywhere nearby you - I'm lucky, the ACC tournament is held in my town, and my dad and I go to the championship game every year. The tickets are way cheaper than they should be and it's so much fun, no matter who is in the game.
Finally, play March Madness with us. Women's side always has way fewer participants. :/
posted by joycehealy at 2:35 PM on August 8, 2019
Sports fan here. A big part of my sports consumption is Twitter - following the players, official accounts for teams/leagues, reporters and columnists who cover my sport so I can follow all the news as it happens, and you'll also find like-minded fans who share gifs, memes and discussion topics. It keeps me engaged and interested outside of actual games.
I've also used Reddit and Tumblr, but for my interests, the best community is on Twitter. I actually don't understand why the average person would have a Twitter account, really. But if you have a fandom or an obsession, Twitter is an invaluable way to stay on top of what's happening as it's happening, so you'll never miss a thing.
On Instagram, I follow the leagues/players/teams as well, but I also follow fan accounts who make funny compilations and share clips. I'm sure you can find those for the WNBA.
Oh, and I also subscribe to podcasts about my sports interest. My feed is a mix of fans chatting and professional ones done by journalists.
posted by AppleTurnover at 4:58 PM on August 8, 2019
I've also used Reddit and Tumblr, but for my interests, the best community is on Twitter. I actually don't understand why the average person would have a Twitter account, really. But if you have a fandom or an obsession, Twitter is an invaluable way to stay on top of what's happening as it's happening, so you'll never miss a thing.
On Instagram, I follow the leagues/players/teams as well, but I also follow fan accounts who make funny compilations and share clips. I'm sure you can find those for the WNBA.
Oh, and I also subscribe to podcasts about my sports interest. My feed is a mix of fans chatting and professional ones done by journalists.
posted by AppleTurnover at 4:58 PM on August 8, 2019
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posted by Huffy Puffy at 10:32 AM on August 8, 2019 [1 favorite]