NBA....started well behind boxing, baseball, college football, NFL etc.
Sport grew a bit with Wilt/Russell but the NBA was on life support after that era. They needed Magic vs Bird to save them and that's what vaulted them onto the path they're on today. MJ took it over the top.
Men consume enough sports as-is. Women gotta watch it on TV to get those numbers up.
WNBA also needs some players that draw people to the game. A 6'5" broad with Kyrie handles, looks like Skylar Diggins and can dunk....a physically attractive player that has rare physical ability but also can dominate with just skill. Basically a really tall version of Simone Biles.
Not sure the ladies have that MJ/Bron/Wilt athlete that just captivates people but that's what the league needs. Problem is that hoops tends to be the sport that tall girls play......but tall girls aren't necessarily the best athletes. The best female athletes end up running track, playing soccer or doing gymnastics...maybe tennis. We end up with a bunch of skilled tall broads instead of freak ath-a-leets