Time to explore the EurAsiaLeague Women concept?
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – In a world that is becoming increasingly smaller in so many ways and linked to the ‘ONE FIBA’ concept, isn’t it time we seriously looked at a ‘EurAsiaLeague’ Women competition?
At the very least, push back the borders of EuroLeague Women and make it more of an invitational league [even if it retains its current name] to help with the evolution of women’s ball globally.
To me, it makes perfect sense to now seriously explore this concept. It looks and feels like a natural evolution of this prestigious competition. I also believe that it would be something born out of the strength of the league, rather than trying to re-invent something that is dying.
The immediate reaction of some people reading this will be to recoil and at this point, perhaps click elsewhere. I understand that. But please suspend any scepticism and think about how any barriers can be overcome and the potential which could be unlocked.
After all, the women’s game needs to think more radically if it wants to make breakthroughs into the mainstream consciousness of both the media and sports fans.
In terms of logistics, it is a fact that already in EuroCup Women, there is the possibility of a team in the middle of the Atlantic [in the Azores] eventually meeting a team from ‘central’ Russia [Krasnoyarsk]. While if Vladivostok ever got a women’s team together, they would have a legitimate claim to play in EuroLeague Women and they would be further east than the Korean peninsula!
Meanwhile with some money swilling around countries like Lebanon in the women’s game right now and also the possibility of teams developing in the likes of Kazakhstan, an expansion would crash through borders and not necessarily have to mean teams travelling massive distances. Remember too, that EuroCup Women is now split geographically in two just like the WNBA and that could be rolled out in EuroLeague Women.
Another link to EuroCup Women is the fact that some Federations (or Federation supported) have entered teams which are made up of mainly national team seniors and youth players, who all play for their respective clubs on a weekend, but during the week play together. Vitally – with the option of having some ‘foreign’ players to maximise the competitiveness. Examples are Belgian side Lotto Young Cats and the Amsterdam Angels of Netherlands.
In time and not withstanding the differences in the season calendar, wouldn’t it be intriguing and also hugely exciting to have a WCBA team from China playing in ‘EurAsiaLeague Women’? An All-Star team from the WCBA, with a selection of imports. So effectively the China national team with a few WNBA/EuroLeague Women stars in the mix. Politically it would never happen I hear you say. Perhaps, but history shows that sport moves so quickly and overcomes barriers other parts of society struggles with.
From a basketball standpoint, having Chinese players compete regularly in ‘EurAsia League Women' would surely make their national team even more competitive and they need that right now. Commercially and taking into account the current partnerships at FIBA which have links to China, there would be capacity to deliver and really take the competition to the next level – both on and off the court.
Could a ‘EurAsiaLeague Women’ even match the exposure of the WNBA one day?
I am happy to be called crazy, but the potential to capitalize on the next generation is significant and it comes against a backdrop of women’s basketball supposedly being on the slide Stateside. I have heard concerns less girls are picking up a basketball each year and College programs are worried at what might lie around the corner. Although that is a whole different column and doesn't necessarily reflect the worldwide trends.
The reason for putting this out there for discussion is that I was talking about it with @pierrepiotr_ an avid follower of the women’s game and the discussion snowballed. It felt exciting to just discuss where an expansion of EuroLeague Women might lead one day.
I know it is effectively the clubs who decide in EuroLeague Women (not solely FIBA) and they will naturally be locked onto the logistical challenges and financial exposures, but with every risk there is an opportunity and this one is surely worth a look at the very least?
Paul Nilsen
FIBA
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