Women�s Game Becoming More Worldly

The globalization of women's basketball is complete. After foreign players like Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming and Tony Parker found success here in the NBA, and as the U.S. men's national team struggles in foreign competitions, it only makes sense that a similar phenomenon would take place in the women's game.

And in the women's game, it is overseas where most of the top women earn top dollar. During the WNBA offseason, Diana Taurasi displayed her quick hands to Russian crowds, Kelly Miller dribbled through defenders in France and Becky Hammon bedazzled spectators in Italy. Meanwhile, foreign players like Australian Lauren Jackson, 7-2 Polish center Margo Dydek and Sparks rookie Marta Fernandez, a native of Spain, have found great success both abroad and here in the WNBA.

But from country to country and continent to continent, is the game the same?

Anne Donovan is the coach of the WNBA's Seattle Storm as well as the U.S. National Team. She also played for Team USA, so she has a shrewd understanding of the sport on an international scale.

"It is awesome!" says Donovan of the globalization of the women's game. Playing with and against international players is great for the game because it allows all of the top players to compete with each other.

"It broadens the game," agrees American Latasha Byears of the Houston Comets. "It makes the game more interesting because you're playing with people from all over the world."

But there are clearly differences between the American version of basketball and the game in the rest of the world. The ball and basket are obviously consistent, but coaches and players all over the world have developed different strategies and styles that they believe will help their teams to win.

The European game, Donovan explains, is "more free flowing. There are not as many half-court sets as you might see in the WNBA. So there is a lot of run-and-gun style. There is much more team strength internationally. They rely on their team: the familiarity, the continuity. They have played together for years (unlike) the WNBA where we have super individual play as well as teamwork."

While money is an obvious motive for American players to head overseas during the winter, there are other reasons to go abroad. Especially with the long WNBA offseason, many of the top players simply want to keep playing and keep their fitness steady throughout the year.

"I go over there to stay in shape and to be in that kind of routine," says Katie Douglas of the Connecticut Sun.

It's easy to understand why WNBA players head abroad, but why the recent exodus of foreign players to the WNBA? According to Donovan, the success of USA Basketball coupled with the marketing power of the NBA has allowed the WNBA to be recognized -- rightfully, most feel -- as the league with the highest level of play. In addition, unlike most of the leagues in Europe, the WNBA has no restrictions on the number of foreigners who can play on a team.

"Over here we don't have those kinds of rules and restrictions," says Douglas. "You can build your franchise with whatever players, whatever nationalities you choose. So, obviously, here you have the best of the best� The international players want to play over here because of the opportunity to play amongst the best."

Penny Taylor of the Phoenix Mercury was a star back home in Australia and has now been playing in the WNBA for six years. She has played all over the world, including Europe, but she chooses to play in the WNBA.

"The level of game (here) is much higher," she says.

Donovan agrees. Despite the prevalence of late arrivals to the WNBA this spring from Europe, when summer rolls around, "most players recognize the United States as having the top league," she says, "and the best players want to showcase their talent in the best league against the best players."

Byears agrees: "It's the WNBA. This is where the best players play."

The women's game may not be exactly the same all over the world, but if you have game, the WNBA is where you bring it.