Bibb is the chief operating officer of the Washington Mystics, one of the most successful franchises in the WNBA.
Reports have said the league is in trouble. How have you guys managed to buck the trend?
I would dispute that the league is in trouble. Anyone who wants to dispute that should look at the eight-year contract we’ve signed with ESPN. I don’t think we’re going anywhere. Our attendance is 11,658 currently. That’s league-leading. We do that through promotion, theme, initiative after initiative. You name it, we do it. We’re convinced that once someone sees the product up close and personal, they’re going to be converted to fans.
Do you think the WNBA will ever be as popular as the NBA?
I don’t know. The NBA is, what, 60-some years old? We’re in year 13. We are so young and so new. … As I recall, there were a lot of naysayers that said the league wouldn’t make it one year. Then it was five years. I think the league is stronger today, in 2009, than it was in 1998, when it was founded.
Could the WNBA use a “Bill Veeck” type?
I’m a personal fan of his — I think he was a visionary. I think we do a little of that. Maybe we’re not as — I don’t even want to use the word outlandish — but maybe we’re not as headline-grabbing as some of his previous promotions. But I think we do a lot of the same types of things.
What’s your personal favorite promotion?
I like “Girl Scout Night” because I think it’s really neat to see a large number of girls come to a WNBA game and see a lot of positive role models and see a light come on for them.
How far are the Mystics from being a dynasty?
We’re a long way. We haven’t won anything yet.
How far away from one [championship] are you?
I think we’re getting closer.
– Bill Myers
