# The WNBA's Popularity Has Never Been Higher

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/sports-media-with-richard-deitsch-1023610/the-wnba-s-popularity-has-never-been-higher.md
Podcast: [Sports Media with Richard Deitsch](https://stenobird.com/podcast/sports-media-with-richard-deitsch-1023610)
Published: 2026-05-07T13:31:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/v9Uiw3bGr54f6BVZKSyc/serve.castfire.com/audio/8381302/8381302_2026-05-14-071802.192.mp3?rssID=6247
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/v9Uiw3bGr54f6BVZKSyc/serve.castfire.com/audio/8381302/8381302_2026-05-14-071802.192.mp3?rssID=6247
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Duration seconds: 3545

## Resource

A deep dive into the expansion of the WNBA, featuring Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello and leading league reporters. The discussion explores the blueprint for building a new franchise and the rising media landscape of women's professional basketball.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Building a sustainable foundation through strong ownership and strategic draft input is critical for expansion franchises like the Toronto Tempo
- Practical takeaway: Success for new teams relies on leveraging international player connections and establishing a strong local presence in new markets
- Failure mode: Expansion teams risk being judged against the high standard of recent successful entries like the Valkyries if they fail to build immediate competitiveness
- Main idea: The Las Vegas Aces remain the league's gold standard due to elite talent like A'ja Wilson, creating a massive gap between the top and the rest of the field
- Media trend: The rise of nationalized game broadcasts, such as the Indiana Fever, is fundamentally shifting how the WNBA is consumed globally

## Topics

WNBA, Toronto Tempo, Sandy Brondello, Sports Media, Expansion Franchises, Women's Basketball, Sports Journalism, A'ja Wilson

## Chapters
- 1:00 — Building the Toronto Tempo: Coach Sandy Brondello discusses her decision to lead an expansion franchise and her vision for the team's inaugural season.
- 5:30 — Foundations of Success: Brondello outlines the importance of establishing strong organizational foundations and the challenges of competing at the highest level.
- 18:50 — Roster Construction and Chemistry: An analysis of the Tempo's player personnel, bench depth, and the difficulty of game-planning against elite league stars.
- 32:30 — The Expansion Standard: Reporters discuss how recent expansion successes have raised the bar for new teams entering the league.
- 41:20 — League Power Rankings: A look at the current hierarchy of the WNBA, identifying the Las Vegas Aces as the preseason favorites.
- 50:20 — The Evolution of WNBA Coverage: A discussion on the shift in sports journalism, the impact of nationalized broadcasts, and the responsibilities of covering women's sports.

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## Transcript

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