The WNBA placed its original eight franchises in NBA cities in 1997 with the hope of piggybacking off the excitement, support and interest of its big brother.
And it did.
But that was 13 years ago, in a different era and stronger economy. And all the excitement with winning today in the WNBA doesn't translate into stability, financial or otherwise.
The Houston Comets, who won the first four WNBA championships and were the most successful franchise in the league's 13-year history, simply folded last year.
On Tuesday, the Detroit Shock, the WNBA's best franchise this decade, was sold and will relocate to Tulsa, Okla., for the 2010 season. Tulsa is a non-NBA city where the team will be the top sport in town.
It was a business move, plain and simple.
The Tulsa franchise is 90 miles (the drive from Grand Rapids to Mount Pleasant) from its nearest professional competition, the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder. It won't be fifth on the list of interest like the Shock were behind the big four: the Detroit Lions (NFL), Detroit Tigers (MLB), Detroit Pistons (NBA) and Detroit Red Wings (NHL).
The Shock never came close to moving up the interest list despite winning three championships (2003, '06 and '08), and to think they ever would is ridiculous.
In this poor economy and playing in a state dealing with double-digit unemployment made it even tougher for the Shock to survive.
Tom Wilson, president of Palace Sports and Entertainment, the Pistons and the Shock, called the decision to sell the Shock, which joined the WNBA in 1998, "one of the toughest we have ever made."
He said the Shock lost $2 million last season.
"The Shock has been a true force in the WNBA, but the fact of the matter is that the economic realities have caused us to make this decision," Wilson said in a statement.
Names such as former Shock coach Bill Laimbeer (now an NBA assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves) and assistant coach Rick Mahorn (who took over as the Shock's head coach this season) gave the franchise credibility. So did the franchise's first coach in 1998, current ESPN broadcaster Nancy Lieberman.
Once the initial excitement wore off, though, the Shock, as well as the league, learned they were left with a game played by former college stars who, on some nights, played just above the college ranks.
The Tulsa franchise owns the rights of the Shock's players, so it has a strong foundation to build upon. It's biggest name to date is former Tulsa and Arkansas men's basketball coach Nolan Richardson, who was named Tulsa's coach and general manager.
They already have a television contract in the works that will bring in added revenue. The Shock never had one.
Of the eight original franchises, only Los Angeles, Sacramento, Phoenix and New York still exist among the 13 in the league today. Moving to a smaller market such as Tulsa (population 385,000, second-smallest in the WNBA after Uncasville, Conn. (173,600), which is home for the Connecticut Sun) is an option for the league's survival.
Losing millions, no matter how deep the owner's pockets are, is not sustainable in today's economy.
If you don't believe me, call Tom Wilson.
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