After 20 years of existence, WNBA players are finally get some video game love from one of the largest and well-known NBA games.
The WNBA and EA Sports jointly announced that the latest version of NBA Live will include WNBA players. The announcement said that the video game will be the first to feature professional women’s basketball player when it releases later next month (September). NBA Live 2018 will also have a special “WNBA Play Now” mode which will include the full rosters of all twelve WNBA teams.
I mean, why did it take so long for a video game company to take such a small step in equality and common sense? I understand that the WNBA has a much smaller audience, and that video game players trend male, but the inclusion of WNBA players should have happened a dozen years ago.
NBA Live along with NBA2k are the most well-known NBA video games. The two competing companies have gone to great lengths to better attract fans to their version by including retired players, Olympic Teams, great teams in NBA history, as well as crossing the ocean to addEuropean teams. They also allowed for enabling different modes of play, Blacktop mode for example. It’s head-scratching that it took them this long to find the WNBA hiding in plain sight.
Here’a a look at the WNBA Play Mode:
The announcement came with a gameplay trailer that includes Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore.If this turns out to be a successful move, maybe in the future versions you can unlock a Cynthia Cooper, Lisa Leslie or Cheryl Miller.
Put up a W in #NBALIVE18.
The @WNBA makes its video game debut in @EASPORTSNBA 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Qhbn8eegPN
— EA SPORTS (@EASPORTS) August 3, 2017
“On behalf of the players, we believe that combining technology and entertainment is a powerful way to not only recognize and value our brand of basketball but to also increase fan connectivity and engagement,” Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA President/LA Sparks, said via press release. “We are delighted to collaborate and make history with EA as NBA LIVE 18 becomes the first video game to feature the WNBA’s full roster of teams and players,” said WNBA President Lisa Borders, via press release. “With EA’s expertise and ingenuity, the game will provide a terrific platform to showcase the players and the league, enabling fans to experience the WNBA in a new, exciting way.”
It’s about time.