[Goose]

It is important to recognize that "biggest brand" is heavily influenced by what ESPN covers and how it covers it. ESPN could probably make Stanford, Notre Dame, or just about anybody else that is halfway credible the "biggest brand" if they wanted to do so.

But why should they, as opposed to just jumping on board what is already the biggest brand?

True, but history didn't start today. UConn has been receiving the benefits of preferential coverage for a long time. It is undoubtedly true that choosing UConn as a focus was smart, but doing so also helped ensure the situation would persist as long as possible.

Ironically, if ESPN decided to make Stanford their marquee brand and most heavily promoted women's basketball program that would actually demonstrate favoritism, since we haven't achieved the on-court success that UConn has. UConn has objectively has won the most championships, played in the most final fours, had the most elite players, and subjectively they are led by a head coach who's outspoken and quotable.

Promoting Stanford over anybody else would indeed show favoritism. However, promoting ANYBODY, including UConn over everybody else is equally showing favoritism. Not that this is "bad". ESPN wants to make money. Giving the audience what it wants (and shaping the audience wherever possible) is in ESPN's interest.

If there was no ESPN UConn would still be the most recognizable program and Geno would still be by far the best known and most loved/hated coach in the game. It seems rational that ESPN would focus on UConn as their flagship program. To build up a different program as the primary focus of coverage would be irrational, and evidence of favoritism.

I doubt that. ESPN has delivered major hype over many years. I can't imagine how anyone can argue that has had minimal effect. I do believe that ESPN has the "right" and will in fact hype whoever they think benefits them the most. Whoever that is will be receiving the benefit of favoritism, and that benefit is substantial in the case of ESPN. As far as building up a different program, I would not be at all surprised to see that happen in the not too distant future. Once ESPN is convinced that UConn is no longer the future, they very quickly won't be. Falling from grace in the sports business is surprisingly easy.

[Goose]

It is important to recognize that "biggest brand" is heavily influenced by what ESPN covers and how it covers it. ESPN could probably make Stanford, Notre Dame, or just about anybody else that is halfway credible the "biggest brand" if they wanted to do so.

But why should they, as opposed to just jumping on board what is already the biggest brand?

True, but history didn't start today. UConn has been receiving the benefits of preferential coverage for a long time. It is undoubtedly true that choosing UConn as a focus was smart, but doing so also helped ensure the situation would persist as long as possible.

Ironically, if ESPN decided to make Stanford their marquee brand and most heavily promoted women's basketball program that would actually demonstrate favoritism, since we haven't achieved the on-court success that UConn has. UConn has objectively has won the most championships, played in the most final fours, had the most elite players, and subjectively they are led by a head coach who's outspoken and quotable.

Promoting Stanford over anybody else would indeed show favoritism. However, promoting ANYBODY, including UConn over everybody else is equally showing favoritism. Not that this is "bad". ESPN wants to make money. Giving the audience what it wants (and shaping the audience wherever possible) is in ESPN's interest.

If there was no ESPN UConn would still be the most recognizable program and Geno would still be by far the best known and most loved/hated coach in the game. It seems rational that ESPN would focus on UConn as their flagship program. To build up a different program as the primary focus of coverage would be irrational, and evidence of favoritism.

I doubt that. ESPN has delivered major hype over many years. I can't imagine how anyone can argue that has had minimal effect. I do believe that ESPN has the "right" and will in fact hype whoever they think benefits them the most. Whoever that is will be receiving the benefit of favoritism, and that benefit is substantial in the case of ESPN. As far as building up a different program, I would not be at all surprised to see that happen in the not too distant future. Once ESPN is convinced that UConn is no longer the future, they very quickly won't be. Falling from grace in the sports business is surprisingly easy.