The rise of the WNBA has become one of the biggest stories in modern sports.
Its growing popularity is a gradual process, shaped over the years by player development and growing commercial appeal. His rise was endorsed and supported by his NBA peers, past and present, who always went out of their way to celebrate the game.
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One of these names is a four-time NBA champion John Salleywho thinks the WNBA is so captivating because, unlike their NBA counterparts, they still play a fundamental style of basketball.
“In women’s sports, in basketball, we play without dunks. There are a few women who can dunk, and we see it. I was at the game with Lisa Leslie and I dunk when the Sparks played. My daughter wanted me to go get food, and I was watching it on TV, and I had floor seats, and I’m watching TV while I’m waiting in line and I see Lisa dunk and I turn to her and she says, ‘Sorry dad,’ she I knew right away that I could have seen this in person, Salley said.
“But it was cool, the fact that I was able to bring my daughter to watch this game, it’s such a huge thing that you’re watching the fundamentals. They’re fundamentally sound. They’re not just totally athletic. They’re still playing a fundamental game. They’re still playing a team game. And it’s fast, and the ladies are dribbling and shooting the three, doing everything,” he added.
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WNBA vs. NBA
Professional sport has always revolved around its stars. These are the pillars on which leagues are built, allowing the sport to reach new heights.
For the WNBA, this is exactly what we are witnessing today: a league that is experiencing unprecedented popularity and media coverage, thanks to its extraordinary players.
Conversely, the NBA continues to face criticism: it has lost its soul, the game has become too soft, everyone shoots too many threes, and there is no longer any physicality.
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While there may be some truth to that sentiment, part of the game’s evolution can be attributed to the general improvement of athletes across the league. Nowadays, being a top athlete almost seems like a prerequisite for excelling in the NBA, as star culture and living above the rim have gradually replaced the fundamental skills and fundamentals of basketball.
In doing so, it has rewritten what we subconsciously value in the product, and both sides are questioning whether that reality has been beneficial to the vitality of the league. Regardless, there’s no denying that WNBA players continue to do what they do best: play the game the right way. There will always be discussions about whether the rims should be lowered or whether the dunk should be made easier for the entire product, but what Salley expertly explains is that the WNBA thrives because it presents the game the right way.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
The NBA is entertaining; it’s hard to escape this fact. The views on social media are off the charts, highlights go instantly viral and people love seeing players on a radiator every night. But just because it’s exciting doesn’t mean the WNBA should necessarily follow suit.
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The world wants the WNBA to be more like the NBA, but in doing so they are already indirectly subjugating everything good about the league. The growing popularity speaks for itself, suggesting that there may be nothing wrong with the product.
As we continue to see Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers take the league by storm and welcome new talent onto the world stage each year, the WNBA will prove that Salley is right and that there is absolutely nothing wrong with what she is doing.
If anything, they need to double down on what makes the league so attractive in the first place. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on January 5, 2026, where he first appeared in the Off the field section. Add Basketball Network as Favorite source by clicking here.
