FanPost

NBA Commissioner David Stern to retire in February 2014

NBA commissioner David Stern is scheduled to retire on February 1, 2014, according to ESPN. Also from ESPN, the NBA Board of Commissioners unanimously elected Adam Silver (Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer) to take Stern's seat as Commissioner starting on February 1, 2014.

Stern is just as pivotal a figure in women's basketball history as he is in men's history. He was commissioner when the NBA Board of Governors approved the WNBA concept. His help and support made the WNBA the most successful pro women's league in America - not only did he help it become well known, but he promoted television coverage for the WNBA as well. He probably belongs in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville as well as the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Whether the same level of commitment exists with Adam Silver, you can't say that Silver hasn't done his part. He was the first person to approach Michael Alter about starting a franchise in Chicago. According to WNBA President Laurel Richie, Silver supports the league as much as Stern does. Even so, I suspect that WNBA fans will keep a hopeful eye on Silver's first years as commissioner.