New president tells fans make own WNBA judgment

On May 27, AJC columnist Jeff Schultz wrote a Sports page 1 column about the WNBA’s 20th anniversary, new league president Lisa Borders’ visit to the Atlanta Press Club and the viability of the league and its future. Below is a letter written in response by Borders:

To the Editor:

As President of the WNBA and an avid fan of women’s basketball, I was very disappointed with Jeff Schultz’s column, “Is WNBA’s expectation for success just a dream?”

As Mr. Schultz himself has noted, he has never attended a WNBA game. Had he attended any of the Dream’s home games over the last eight years, he would have seen and experienced why WNBA fans all over the country are so excited about our landmark 20th season: the outstanding play on the court, the passionate fans cheering on our incredible athletes and the strong support from the corporate community.

And Mr. Schultz doesn’t even need to attend a game to get a sense of the league’s progress. The WNBA has an agreement to be carried on ESPN through 2025, and the league’s opening night telecast had the highest viewership of any game since 2001.

I hope your readers make their own judgment about our wonderful league.

Sincerely,