There is no point in arguing about that which can be resolved by experiment. Therefore, I have a suggestion. This will not only test whether WNBA teams actually play at elite levels, it will also draw massive publicity, and test whether, given a viewing, they can gain a dedicated audience. The test is simply this. Play a "championship" type exhibition match, consisting of seven games, or whatever they typically play in basketball... against this year's state champion high school varsity boys' team, selecting a populous state such as California, Texas, or Florida. A match of this type will be the subject of heated debate on social media... and that means free publicity. It's a proven formula. The tennis people did this several times, back in the 70s, and it was always a big draw. So I see no impediment to testing your allegations. If the WNBA are elite athletes, as you say, they should trounced a bunch of high-school age amateurs, even state champions, with little difficulty. If they are unjustly overlooked, as you say, they will be able to exhibit their skills and exciting play in front of a huge audience, and have no trouble gaining fans. Which will then direct marketing dollars their way, because the NBA, like any other savvy business, is inclined to invest in departments that bring in revenue. You want them to have their shot at the fame and fortune you believe they deserve? This is how they get it. As an engineer, I believe in test-driven development. As a science fiction author, I believe in showing, rather than telling. So let's have a test, and let the ladies show us what they are capable of.