WNBA holds rookie camp

If you happen to be a fan of the men’s sports, you may already know that leagues hold rookie camps designed to teach players about various aspects of being a professional athlete, but I found this article on the WNBA’s rookie camp a little more interesting. The league holds a rookie camp on style and fashion. From the Chicago Tribune.

As part of the rookies’ orientation into life as professional athletes, the WNBA for the first time offered them hour-long courses on makeup and fashion tips. The courses, at an O’Hare airport hotel, made up about a third of the two-day orientation, which also featured seminars on financial advice, media training and fitness and nutrition.

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Marketing players is perhaps more important than ever, and the WNBA realizes that it’s still a tough sell.

“It’s all contributing to how to be a professional,” league President Donna Orender said of the orientation classes. “I do believe there’s more focus on a woman’s physical appearance. Men are straight out accepted for their athletic ability. That’s reality. I think it’s true in every aspect of the work force. This is all about a broader-based education.”

It’s an interesting read on the type of advice players are given about fashion, makeup and style, with a bit extra on the marketability of No. 1 draft pick Candace Parker, but this was my favorite part of the story.

Alexis Hornbuckle, a rookie guard with the Detroit Shock, said she rarely wears makeup but will start thinking about it more now.

“Appearance is important, whether you’re an athlete or not,” Hornbuckle said. “Hey, you’ve got to play the game. That’s life.”