Is this enough to play in the WNBA?

Question

Hi there. I am a 13 year old girl who plays basketball. My biggest dream is to play in the WNBA. I know that this dream's chance is one in a million, but I want to be that one. I will make so many sacrifices to achieve this dream. I will eat healthier, go to bed earlier and get more sleep, work out in the weight room and the gym everyday, and anything else you or I can think of. Right now I am taking a class to help me run faster. The teacher is the track coach at the university in my town. He says he's already seeing me run faster and I've only had one class! :) My vertical jump is pretty good considering I am a 5'4" girl going into eighth grade who weighs 120 pounds and I can touch the net on a basketball hoop. I know it doesn't sound very impressive but it is a decent vertical for a 5'4" girl. I am not very strong. I can't tell you how much I can bench because I am a beginner in weight lifting so I haven't benched yet. I can do 15 pushups without taking a break. Hopefully by next summer I will be able to do more. I am trained so I will not do anything too many times or lift too much because I have learned how to be safe in the weight room. Plus I will have a coach with me.

PLEASE READ THIS:

These are the things I hope to improve on. Is this enough to play in the WNBA if I train everyday, if I work hard all year, and if I try my best?

1. Speed

2. Endurance (I'll do some long distance running.)

3. Vertical Jump (I have a vertical jump machine that will help a lot)

4. Strength

5. Confidence

P.S. People are assuming I will be around 5'7" - 5'9". Is this tall enough?

Thanks so much!! :)

Answer 1

give your best. Then it won't depend only on you

Answer 2

you seem to have amazing work ethic. it's always possible. if you like the game enough!

good luck

Answer 3

With all of the things you're doing, with hard work, you can achieve a good scholarship at a Division I school, and then you will have to work hard there too.  Don't worry about height, because the listed heights of most players are their heights wearing shoes, so a 5'9" players is probably really 5'8" or maybe even a tad shorter.  Players like Becky Hammon and Betty Lennox are among the WNBA's stars, and are 5'6" and 5'8" in kicks respectively, so they're really shorter than that.  They however are very quick, and speed must be what you need in order to compensate for a lack of height, and you also will need to be a good scorer and passer, since you'll prob end up being a PG.

Don't listen to what some are saying about WNBA salaries being low, because they're not the sole amount of $$ that players make.  If you make it to the league, there are many opportunities to play in the Euroleagues or in Asia during the winter.  Players like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Becky Hammon have multi million dollar deals in Russia; that's right. Millions of dollars to play there, but of course the WNBA gives them media exposure which Russia doesn't give as much of.  But even if you aren't a WNBA star, you can still make well over six digits by playing there, by coaching (former players Jennifer Rizzotti and Dawn Staley) or being a broadcaster (ie- Swin Cash and Kara Lawson).   Also most WNBA players also have shoe endorsements and will pay you to wear their shoes.

Answer 4

Ofcourse you can make it!  the wnba is a long term goal which is perfectly fine. i like how you have listed what you need to work on and all i can say is keep working hard. you should set some short term goals though. such as making the varsity team in high school and

so on because it will help you reach your ultimate goal of making it to the wnba. if your going to be between 5'7 and 5'9 that is darn good height for a wnba pg. sue bird is listed at 5'9, becky hammon is listed at 5'6, ivory latta is 5'6, so obviously height should not be a problem. and btw don't listen to the guy that said wnba players don't make any money. salaries in the wnba have continued to rise. some players make close to a 100,000 playing in the wnba. and even third round draft picks make 35,000 their first year, which may not seem like much, but for 4 months it is pretty impressive. and not mention overseas women make a ton and from endorsement deals. there are quite a few women basketball players who top the 1 million mark from playing in the wnba, overseas, and from endorsements. so don't worry about money!

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best.”  

Answer 5

Its possible 5'7-5'9 is pretty short though, but its possible.

Answer 6

Great !! It sounds to me like you are very motivated. Having a hard work ethic is a very useful skill.... not just in sports but in school, career, and life.

5'6" to 5'9" is just perfect for a guard. To play that position you need to work on the fundamentals. Here's some things to add on your list ...

6. Dribbling / Ball Handling: Running fast and dribbling fast are 2 very different things. Learn to control the ball on the dribble, learn to spin, and change directions. Learn to go left as quickly as going to your right.

7. Jump Shooting: This is essential for a guard. Practice your jumpshot  stroke, catch and shoot, shoot off the dribble. Turn around and shoot. Fadeaway shoot ... etc.

8. Defensive intensity: This requires alot of quick footwork. Be a smart defender. Defend without fouling. And be tough.

9. Toughness: You either have it or you don't. Go after loose balls, rebounds, steals. Coaches love a player who hustles.

I hope you succeed in basketball, or wherever you go. Just keep working hard and practice, practice, practice.  

Answer 7

Don't try.......... The max you can make is about 60 thousand a year compared to the NBA's 5 mill a year...