About

For our project about the WNBA’s growth and storied history, we used several comprehensive primary and secondary sources, along with our dataset, to explore the social, cultural, and political factors contributing to the league’s development. A majority of these sources were about the growing interest in women’s sports and societal attitudes toward female athletes. The information found in our dataset, Across the Timeline, was corroborated with external data to address this trend. We used additional viewership and attendance from Nielsen [1] and the NBA [2] to inform parts of our bar charts, line graphs, and maps. Our research also examined the disparities between the WNBA and the NBA. Historically, the WNBA has faced significant challenges, such as smaller audiences and salaries compared to the NBA [3]. However, these sources also informed topics in our project about the WNBA’s values. While asking questions about how the WNBA’s values changed over time, we found historical sources that provided an in-depth look at the league’s history, illustrating how it has evolved from its inception to the present day and adapted to its circumstances.

One of our key sources, “The History of Women’s Professional Basketball in the United States with an Emphasis on the Old WBL and the New ABL and WNBA,” an academic article written by Donald Staffo, was invaluable in providing insight into the culture within and around the WNBA. [4] Staffo explained how the disparity in audience size and salaries between leagues fostered a unique attitude within the WNBA. [4] This attitude, compared to those in the NBA, was purpose-oriented, pursuing sports “for sports sake.” [4] We found this argument interesting and it carried our questions forward in a different path than we initially intended. We also gathered several other historical sources that discussed the WNBA’s role as a trailblazer in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and creating an inclusive environment for players and fans. Lyndsey D’Arcangelo’s articles written for Just Women’s Sports [5] and the New York Times, [6] respectively, were deeply insightful and gave us insight to the league’s history and approach to inclusivity. Overall, our research provided a multi-faceted understanding of the WNBA’s past, present, and future. We looked at the growth of the league with respect to a rising trend in interest in women’s sports. We chronicled the history of the league, pointing out events that were important for inclusion, visibility, or the advancement of women’s sports in America. We analyzed data from Across the Timeline and other sources to map attendance patterns related on societal factors. This comprehensive approach allowed us to appreciate the complex factors contributing to the WNBA’s growth and the league’s increasing prominence in a male-dominated field.

We’d like to acknowledge Dr. Albrezzi and Nick Schwieterman for being wonderful instructors and guides for our foray into Digital Humanities. Our data journey would have been impossible to navigate without your help; thank you!

We would also like to acknowledge our dataset and its founder, Maitreyi Anantharaman, for providing valuable information and inspiring our narrative. Across the Timeline provided us with the foundation to foster a new perspective on women’s sports in America.