The WNBA is not the best representation of what women’s professional basketball can be in North America. It is just the best representation of what the people who run the NBA want women’s professional basketball in North America to be.
An interesting take. The flip side of the NBA (likely) restricting the ABL's TV deal is that the NBA also helped the WNBA get a TV deal.
The ABL was also very poorly run and its business model (salaries, schedule length, etc.) really didn't pencil out.
The author's goal, and the WNBA players' goal, is a league that treats its employees better, but for either to happen, the revenue must be there. The WNBA players consistently ask for more -- as a union should -- but it's unclear what other aspect of the business should have its share cut in order to pay the players more. Usually the default scapegoat is the owners, but it doesn't seem like WNBA owners are getting rich any faster than the players.
The ABL just couldn't compete against the men's winter leagues. It finally got a TV deal with CBS for their third season's playoffs but folded midway through. The salaries were also way too high for a startup league.