'Baby steps': Long-term plan a must for WNBL's future

There's been some big changes in the WNBL lately — a new ownership group, a new CBA and we're probably heading into a season with a bit more hype than we've seen in the past with a new group leading the way.

A CBA is huge. You obviously want better working conditions for women that play at a high level in Australia. I think the biggest part of the new deal is the minimum stuff, the minimum contracts and the way minimum athletes are treated. That was a huge issue five or 10 years ago in the NBL and most recently, the WNBL. But now they've got changes to that side over the line, which is great.

However, the tough thing for the WNBL, especially with a new ownership group in, is just trying to get the league profitable. The hardest thing in the WNBL, much like the WNBA, is trying to get it to a point where it is profitable so therefore the athletes can reap more benefits. I hope to one day see it where it is profitable, and with that comes more investment.

Unfortunately, there are some club owners, and this isn't a knock on them or a knock on anyone, that are so far in the minus that it's hard to keep reinvesting in the club. We have seen numerous clubs reportedly “almost going under” at numerous times in the last decade (with some going under). It's hard to keep asking for better facilities and better travel than they've got (which should be a minimum) if the clubs are losing money.

I think it has to be baby steps. I think where we get caught with WNBA and WNBL at times is wanting what the men have today and believing we need that today.

The harsh part of it is it's going to take time. You can circle back in history to find The NBA and the NBL had players working second jobs. The WNBA has only been around 25-odd years. The WNBL has been around longer, but it's going to take baby steps of getting things done the right way. You can't have it today or tomorrow. It has to be a long-term plan.

The current ownership group of the WNBL, I think they understand that it's going to take a five or 10-year plan to get the league, and most important the clubs profitable. It will be no easy feat.

As far as the peaking interest in women's basketball, I think a lot of people have daughters, first and foremost, that play sport and like the sport. I think there is a connection.

We have a lot of our Kings players go and watch Flames games, and vice versa, and we're trying to establish something that's kind of a family club that they support each other, even though there's separate names. We are under one banner. We're one of the only teams that does our annual awards nights together, have the whole group come and make it a big thing.

On top of that, I think Caitlin Clark is a huge reason as to why the women's game is slowly starting to become bigger. I think she's a legitimate price of admission player. You need price of admission players.

You would go and watch her regardless of whether she was on a good or bad team because you're going to see something special. You see that with your Luka’s, your LeBron's, your Steph's. You go there, you will be wowed regardless of the result.

There hasn't been a lot of those on mass in the WNBA and WNBL, not to disrespect any of the previous players. Australia has had its own in Lauren Jackson, a fantastic price of admission player. The more and more players of that caliber, the better the game will be.

NBA Champion Andrew Bogut is a columnist and contributor for Basketball.com.au. He is part owner and assistant coach of the Sydney Kings.

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