The style of play was in decline in the NBA at that time, and the opposite is true in women's basketball, where the level of skill and athleticism has never been higher.
Back then there was less competition for attention, too.
The NBA had a far larger regular audience and got more media coverage so it could withstand more disturbances in the force, so to speak.
And marketing around that Michael Jordan guy was pretty effective long term, too, while it's harder to do that with college rosters turning over every four years.
About the Author