WNBA Madness

How would you respond to this question? What level of men's basketball team would compete equally with a WNBA team?

While watching the NCAA tournament this week we were discussing this very question among ourselves and couldn't reach an agreement. We decided to put our friends and family on the case. These are their (anonymous) responses:

I think I'd put a good WNBA team at about an okay NCAA division A men's basketball team. Not a Duke, but not a San Jose State either.

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That is a difficult difficult question to answer, but here's my best response. Of course, my response is contingent on you telling me who said what.

There's no way that WNBA players can compete with an NBA team, not even the worst team. They're also going to have difficulty competing with D-I NCAA men's teams (my guess would be that 30 out of the 64 teams who make the NCAA playoffs could beat a WNBA team 6 out of 10 times).

Most WNBA teams are too big and too fast for your average high school team, so this is my final answer. They can compete with JUCO teams with good success (app. .700-.800 winning percentage) and with lower-tiered D-I teams with less success (app. 300-.450 winning percentage). They can cream most high school teams (.950 winning percentage) and would perform horribly against the top 30 D-1 teams (.200 winning percentage). Zero percent chance of winning against an NBA team.

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I have no idea, but i am on your side!

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The middle of a mid-major college basketball conference, but that's still pretty good.

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A good high school team - - meaning a state champion-caliber team with a solid 6'8" center and a couple of college-worthy players - - would likely compete equally with a WNBA team. The next notch up would be junior colleges and division II schools and most of these would likely dominate in the WNBA. Beyond that, if the WNBA champions played in division I college, they may get a win or two against a Podunk State but would never make the NCAA tournament. If they did make it to the tournament, however, I would not pick them to win against any other team in the bracket ... except for possibly Duke.

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Priest's church ball. We used to play in our church gym all the time, and [name withheld...we're keeping this totally anonymous, DK.] came and played with us a bunch, she ended up being a first round draft pick in the WNBA, so I am guessing we all would have been able to be similar picks since there was no one there who couldn't defend her or score at will on her.

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High school, probably JV. I remember being on the practice squad against the UVSC womens team. Now they are not the NBA but we were just a bunch of gym rats. We dominated them from the start. I will give them credit, they know how to throw a mean elbow.

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Gaithersburg High School level! No elaboration needed -- the athletic ability of the women of the WNBA make them easy to guard and score on -- if a HS team had as much time to dedicate to practice, they would be equal if not better!!!

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Well, I don't really know. I think that men in the NBA are obviously stronger but I think that the women could give them a run for their money. There are a lot of talented female basketball players and can run and shoot just as good as men. I think the problem would be the physical strength of men vs. women. I do think that the WNBA could beat most men's college basketball teams. I hope this helps!!!

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I just now got this. I would think an NBA team???

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At best a high school Varsity team that is all white.

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You're asking me about sports? With my limited insight I would have to say college level.

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In terms of quality, a good WNBA team might make it through a couple of rounds of the NCAA tournament. Maybe even a final four for a couple of teams... If what I have said is not helpful to your cause just delete and ignore. : )

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A good High School boys team should be able to take a WNBA team. Although the women would have much better fundamentals and knowledge of the game, a high school boys team would be far too athletically superior, too quick, and too strong for a WNBA team. Not necessarily any boys team, but probably like a state champ.

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The WNBA is equal to Men's college level basketball, for many reasons. male b-ball players are faster, smarter, jump higher, have quicker and better ball control, additional talents........and so on. I also think that from there it goes down as well W-college with M-highschool. I think that it is awesome that women have their own league but men are just better ball players.

But what ever you said I am behind you 100%

So maybe that didn't help clear up the issue, but it was fun. Of course the correct answer is a high school junior varsity team.