Stern: Women in the NBA 'probable'

NEW YORK, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Women could be playing in the NBA within a decade, league commissioner David Stern says.

When asked by Sports Illustrated magazine if there could be female players in the league someday, he answered, "Sure. I think that's well within the range of probability."

The magazine then asked Stern if he thought it would happen sometime within the next decade. He answered: "I think we might. I don't want to get into all kinds of arguments with players and coaches about the likelihood. But I really think it's a good possibility."

"The public would be excited about it," Kiki Vandeweghe, New Jersey Nets general manager and interim coach, told SI. "Whether you're in China or Europe or Africa, basketball is a common language and it breaks barriers. It's a language that's spoken all over the world, and this is another barrier that it would bring down. It's exciting, and it's a logical next step."

But there are doubters, the magazine said.

"Think about the overall speed, athleticism and strength (in the NBA)," an unnamed league GM said. "They can't take the pounding, the wear and tear, the quickness, the strength. It's not possible for them right now."