Why Was a Big WNBA Championship Game Played at Lunchtime?

A big problem hit the WNBA this week when Game 6 of the Finals was scheduled for a Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET — right in the middle of the school and work day. The game could have decided the championship, so many fans were upset they couldn't watch. Sports reporters quickly started asking how such an important game ended up in such an awkward time slot.

Writers and experts blamed several groups for the scheduling mistake, including the WNBA league itself, the team owners, and the NBA. One writer, Brian Hamilton, said it was a case of 'inexcusably obtuse planning' and called it 'a wildly crappy thing to do to the people who consume your product.' In other words, he felt the people in charge let down the fans during the sport's biggest moment.

The Atlanta Dream team owners wrote an open letter saying the scheduling problem was not their fault. However, reporters say the blame is actually spread across many different groups. No single person or organization was fully responsible, which made it harder to fix.

The WNBA is having its best season ever, with more money, more famous players, and more viewers than at any other time. Sports reporter Candace Buckner wrote that the NBA, which has a financial stake in the WNBA, should do more to help the women's league succeed. She argued that now is not the time to make the WNBA fight for attention on a quiet weekday afternoon.

TV channels tried to help by showing the game on more networks, including USA, E!, and SyFy. This meant more people had a chance to watch, even if the game time was still difficult for most fans. Putting a big game on extra channels is one way leagues try to reach a bigger audience.

Some people pointed out that daytime sports events can be fun, like early World Cup games and the first days of March Madness college basketball. But reporters say those situations are different, because the WNBA Finals is a championship — not a regular-season or early-round game. During a breakthrough season, this kind of scheduling mistake should not happen.

In other sports news, the World Series continued after the Tampa Bay Rays avoided being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers. Many Brewers fans traveled to Tampa to watch the games, partly because tickets were cheaper there than back home in Milwaukee. It turned out to be an exciting subplot in a big baseball postseason.

Jay-Z was hired to plan the Super Bowl halftime show, and he chose himself as one of the performers. Some people found it funny, while others thought it was a bold but fair choice. Fans are now guessing which of his many famous songs he will perform at the big game.