How Has the WNBA Changed in Ten Years?

WNBA players are in the trenches, battling the court as well as off the court. They work for recognition, respect and a greater social consciousness. And over the years, ten to be exact, the game, the league and the sport have changed dramatically.

Sheryl Swoopes, Forward
Houston Comets, 10th season

"First of all, there's definitely more talent in the league today than there was seven or eight years ago. I think the biggest difference is all of the young talent that we have in the league today. And when I look at the college game today, it's only going to get better.As far as the physicality of it, I'm glad I'm not a referee because you just never know. Sometimes they're calling every little bitty thing and you've got people complaining about that, "Because that's not what the fans want to see." Now, it's very physical and people are complaining about that, "It's too physical. That's not what the coaches want; that's not what the players want." So you've gotta give and take. You've got to give a little and take a little."

Kara Lawson, Guard
Sacramento Monarchs, 4th season

"Everyone would say that the talent and quality of play has improved because the athletes are better. Every year, the rookies that come in are bigger, stronger and faster, they have more skills and are better able to adapt to the professional ranks. It's a lot of fun. I think our league is a part of the national consciousness much more than it has been. When it started, it might have been a novelty or something new that drew some attention, but the more I travel and the more we talk to fans and the average person, they know where teams are and they know the players. The more games you get on television, the more you can expose new and receptive fans to our game, the bigger and faster we will grow. I still run into people that have never seen a game or been to a game, but they have heard about us and know we are here. Just getting people to come, though, almost always draws a positive reaction and they want to come back for more."

Lauren Jackson, Forward
Seattle Storm, 6th season

"Every year it's getting more competitive. The players who are coming out of college are really focused and ready to play. There's a lot of great talent. I think the league is on a good track."

Swin Cash, Guard
Detroit Shock, 5th season

"I think we are starting to find our identity. The league is starting to realize what we are, who we are and where we are going. It's really important that we understand what our brand is and now, we understand that we are a league of strong, inspiring women and women who can lay a foundation for the younger girls to come. And it is very important that we are not only active in sports, but active in the community."

Tina Thompson, Forward
Houston Comets, 10th season

"In my opinion, we are no longer a league of veterans. A new era of basketball is being showcased. Ten years ago, the dominant players were experienced players that had already built a professional career abroad and brought their talents home to be showcased. Of course there were younger players, but we were all considered rookies and put into the same boat. In our tenth season, with several college drafts under our belt, there is a diversity to our league that adds character and an evolution of our game that is displayed in every game played. We have the foundation of out history with the association of players like Cheryl Miller, Ann Meyers, Nancy Leiberman, Teresa Edwards, Cynthia Cooper, Sue Wicks, Teresa Weatherspoon and then Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, then Rebecca Lobo, Katie Smith, Tina Thompson, Tamecka Dixon, Wendy Palmer, from them to Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamicha Catchings, Becky Hammon, and our future in Diana Taurasi, Swin Cash, Alana Beard, Sue Bird. This is a true representation of how the game has evolved. The competition is getting bigger and better everyday and the versatility and the athleticism is getting better. All of this is on display in the World's Most Successful Professional League, the WNBA! What more could you ask for than women's basketball at it's best?"

Betty Lennox, Guard
Seattle Storm, 7th season

"I think the league has changed in that we have younger faces who are more athletic. These players are stronger and quicker. But the league is still held together by the veterans. Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Lisa Leslie have been there since Day One and continue to do a great job in leading and keeping the basketball under control."

Nikki McCray, Guard
Chicago Sky, 9th season

"It has obviously grown a lot just through more teams, more competitive and better talent. There were a lot of players who came from the ABL into the WNBA in 1999. Now there is a pool of talent and the Draft is a very exciting thing whereas we were initially allotted to teams from the ABL. Our fans continue to grow year in and year out. Ten years, I really can't believe it."

Kelly Miller, Guard
Phoenix Mercury, 6th season

"I think one of the biggest changes is just how competitive it has become. There are so many teams that have a chance to win the title, but this league continues to grow every year."

Ruth Riley, Center
Detroit Shock, 6th season

"It's just amazing how much the league has evolved over the past ten years. It was fun to watch the inaugural game and see how the talent level of the college players has grown and where their game has evolved to. When these young players now get into the league, they are even better players to start with and making an impact from the outset. And I think the game has evolved, as well, in terms of the fans, the community, team support and even marketing. It's just exciting to see where the whole package has gone."

Katie Smith, Guard
Detroit Shock, 8th season

"The rules have changed, the ownership model has changed and the kinds of arenas we play in have changed. We tweak the season here and there each year and we're pretty close to finding something that works for us and created our niche. The new teams that do not have NBA team relationships is also a big step in a positive direction."

Coco Miller, Guard
Washington Mystics, 6th season

"I really think each year it keeps getting more competitive, more intense, I think the college game, the players there are getting better as well and they're coming in this league so the WNBA players have to keep up with that."

Teresa Weatherspoon, Guard
WNBA legend

"What's definitely grown, if you look at it from year to year is that the talent level has risen, that is something we try to make sure of, because the game changes all the time, and you want when you're playing people to see that the game has changed to a level where the excitement is even greater, the talent level is even greater and the game has moved to another level of points being scored, the excitement of the game has changed, that's the beauty of it and it's changing every year because of the talent level that's coming in."

Lynette Woodard, Guard
WNBA legend

"I think the league has grown tremendously. I have enjoyed watching players grow into household names, I have enjoyed watching our sponsors grow with us, I have enjoyed watching crowds and our fanbase grow. Those are things that you can see visibly, but there are so many more little girls dreaming about growing up and wanting to play basketball. It's okay now. The fact that they can have visible role models is probably the most important thing to come out of the WNBA. I think there are just more exciting things happening. We had another Slam Dunk that took place and hopefully there will be more. I expect in the future that there will be power forwards doing it and not just the centers."