The WNBA can’t support itself without the NBA financing them. They pay there players are paid at most 241,000 a year, most are around 60g. I made more than half the league last year. MLS highest paid player is Messi at 12 million per year, highest outside of the exemption is 1.1 million and average being 312g.
all of this to say. NBA is improving marketing for WNBA, including them in AllStar events, and paying ESPN to mention them. Doesn’t change that WNBA viewership numbers are still averaging 700k for the finals compared to MLS that reaches 340k average for a regular season game (same as the NHL) and final of 2.16 million viewers.