NWBL Says No to Semi-Pro
January 14, 2004 - National Women's Basketball League (NWBL)
Chicago Blaze News Release
Naperville, IL - The National Women's Basketball League (NWBL) hopes to soon shake the image of being labeled as a semi-professional basketball league. League President Patrick Alexander states that the NWBL is the other "professional" women's basketball league. "In 2002 the top pick was Rebecca Lobo and the third pick was Tamika Catchings. Over the past three years 4 Olympians, several WNBA All-Stars, and even a couple of WNBA MVP's have played. The NWBL is fortunate enough to be able to offer the professional game at minor-league prices, but in no way should this be considered "semi-professional."
While there is definitely a mixture of talent and experience among those competing in the NWBL, the players shrug off the "semi-professional" label as well. Taquilla Allen (Chicago Blaze), who played for the Birmingham Power the past two seasons, feels that it takes a fan coming to a game to realize that there is nothing "semi-professional" about it. "This is my third year in the league. I am glad the Tamika (Catchings) is on my team this year. I had to guard her in year one and it was not fun. But the talent in this league is incredible. Every team has players that are currently in the WNBA, or that have been in the WNBA, and every team has players with professional overseas experience. The level of play is unbelievable."
Chicago Blaze General Manager Robert Graham thinks that the NWBL has a very unique niche that helps establish its fan base. "Fans have the opportunity to attend a game which boasts major league talent. Given the match-up featuring an Olympian (Tamika Catchings of the Chicago Blaze) and the WNBA Finals MVP (Ruth Riley of the Colorado Chill), our home opener this Sunday should be on ESPN. There is so much talent in the league - from Cheryl Ford (2003 WNBA Rookie of the Year) to Swin Cash (Springfield Spirit) to Cynthia Cooper (Houston Stealth). The fans will really be impressed with the play."
Just as important as the play, because the games are held in smaller venues, it is possible to create a collegiate atmosphere that enhances the experience for the fans. Blaze President Joseph McCoy had this to say, "People (kids and adults) do not get an opportunity to see, much less talk to professional (women) athletes, and now they can. This will be a great experience, on and off the court, for fans of all ages. The setting of Merner Field House will be awesome."
National Women's Basketball League Stories from January 14, 2004
- NWBL Says No to Semi-Pro - Chicago Blaze
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
