Section I: Introduction

     Did you watch the Louisville Cardinals defeat the Michigan Wolverines as their fallen teammate Kevin Ware criticized their mistakes and cheered their successes? Most of America did watch the game that is already being called one of the greatest ever. On the following night, did you watch the women from Louisville fall to the Connecticut Huskies? Probably not. The game didn’t have the drama of Ware sitting in a wheelchair, but Geno Auriemma and the Huskies tied Pat Summitt and Tennessee for the most wins in women’s basketball history. And the difference in attention to the sports doesn’t end there. On playgrounds, crowds gather to watch boys play basketball. On average, 20,000 fans attend NBA games while WNBA teams draw around 7,000. Did you ever stop to think about why people find Men’s basketball more interesting than Women’s? Well, throughout my paper I’m going to explore how men’s and women’s basketball differ and how that affects fan interest.

Answering My Questions

How does women's basketball differ from men's basketball? In basketball the speed of the game for Men & Women. Women's basketball they usually run more of a pattern-scripted play on a regular basis which results in teams looking for the best shot every possession. But Men's basketball is more of a fast-break, looking for more opportunities to dunk.

Who are the best female basketball players? The best Women's basketball players are Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, Brittney Griner, Cheryl Miller, Maya Moore

Who are the best male basketball players? Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, Magic Johnson

What skills are needed to succeed in women's basketball? Everybody has a different skill they have to bring to the court. But some skills that they need to know are: boxing out, free throws, understanding of offenses & defense, how to play good one on one & how to be a good team player.

Are they different than the male game? There really isn't a diffrence for men. If people can do box out, make free throws, understand the difference between offense & defense, play one on one & be a good team player , they will succeed in basektball.

Who are the best basketball coaches in the NBA & WNBA?

How does the women's college basketball differ from the high school game? In high school girls play 4 quarter 8 minute quarters. In college they play 2 quarter 20 minute quarters. Also in college girls have a shot clock.

Why is it easier for men to go to the NBA then it is women to go to the WNBA?
Why domen basketball players get paid more then women basketball players? Supply & demand . More fans go to men's basketball games then they do women. So the more fans they have, the more money they make.

Why do people find men basketball more interesting then women basketball? The research I found said that because men's basketball has been around longer more people like it, but women's basketball didn't become as popular until the 1980's. Also because men's basketball is more of a fast-pace & there is A LOT more dunking than women's, people really enjoy that.

What WNBA team is the best in the league? Lady Sparks

Does the states that have NBA teams have WNBA teams also? There are only 10 states that have a NBA & WNBA team.
How many WNBA basketball players can dunk? From what I'm seeing there have been 4 females that has/can dunk in the WNBA
How many WNBA teams are there? 10
What does it take to get into the WNBA?
How many WNBA women Coaches are there?
How many WNBA men Coaches are there?
Did the Coaches play basketball at anytime of their life?
Were any of the Coaches in the NBA or WNBA?
What NBA team has the most wins?
What WNBA team has the most wins?

Capstone Proposal

I would like to study the strategies of basketball, because I want to find out what teams do during practice in order to make themselves better so that I can improve my game and be ready for college competition. I want to know how long they work on drills & what type of drills do they do. I am interested in this topic because I play basketball & it's like a stress reliever for me. It keeps me sane when I'm feeling myself about to go crazy & pull my hair out. I don't think other people are as interested in basketball as I am. But, most people are at least interested in watching it & I can build on that. For my exhibition product, I want to develop a plan for practice with players in SAC. If youth coaches run better practices, girls could develop better skills at a young age.

The best sources I have found so far are listed below:
Sum It Up by Pat Summitt
The Secret of Geno's Success
The Coaches' Clipboard