What to expect from The Athletic's women's basketball coverage in 2026? Even more
✨ AI Summary
🔊 جاري الاستماع
Let’s go back 30 years.The WNBA’s first season had no salary cap and players received as little as $15,000 to play. The best players topped out around $50,000, even as stars in 1997 became household names — Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes.Excitement was there, but skepticism abounded. How long would the league exist? Would people watch? Was this a novelty? Would interest eventually wear off? How could it sustain itself financially?Advertisement





