Mercury Seeking Auriemma

[erpowers]

I was looking for information on the playoffs in the WNBA and ran across a news piece about the Pheniox Mercury. CNNSI reported today that the Pheniox Mercury have offered Geno Auriemma the team's head coaching position. One of the main players on the team is former Conneticut player Diana Taurasi. When I read this story my first thought was what role did Taurasi have in getting the Mercury to offer Auriemma the job. I am quite certain that Taurasi had something to do with Auriemma getting the offer. I know that Auriemma is a great coach, but I think Taurasi may have played a role in the offer. So have we seen the first female basketball superstar who can demand her coach?

[jakefrep]

1. Why on earth would he leave?

The UConn job is cushy, stable, and probably fairly lucrative. Why would he leave that for the sinkhole that is the WNBA?

[erpowers]

2. Why a Sinkhole

I am not upset that you called the WNBA a sinkhole. I just want to know why you think it is a sinkhole.

[northzax]

3. UConn attracts more fans

to every home game than any WNBA team. They have a larger TV contract than any WNBA team. When a middling (no offense) university in the middle of a state not known for sports fanaticism, surrounded by professional teams of every character, does better than a professional franchise in the largest city in the world, you have problems.

[K-W]

5. To be fair, the Huskies benefit from the lack of proffesional competition

The reason CT isnt a good spot for a pro franchise has more to do with the proximity to Boston and New York than a lack of sports fans, and UCONN has filled the niche for a hometeam.

[northzax]

6. well sure, but then the WNBA competes against weak competition as well

Baseball and major league soccer. There isn't a lot of overfow, I'd tihnk between MLB fans and WNBA fans. If you have a basketball jones, that's your option in the summer.

[jakefrep]

4. Mostly because I don't see it flourishing, or even surviving much longer..

...Women's college hoops arguably has a higher profile than the WNBA. Eventually the NBA will get real tired of throwing good money after bad and shut down the WNBA.