Yesterday the Mercury News had a long examination of the struggles of women's pro sports. Some highlights:

The women's pro leagues are caught in a chicken-and-egg paradox about recognition and success. They need attention to attract sponsors, marketing and TV exposure, but their games are considered insignificant by the male-dominated sports media, which will pay more attention to a so-called "Battle of the Sexes" event such as Sorenstam's recent appearance on the PGA Tour than it will to more legitimate competition.

[Though attendance has been steady,] tickets are so inexpensive in both leagues neither has much chance to break even, because both lack the huge TV contracts of men's professional and collegiate sports. The WUSA buys its own air time on ESPN, PAX and TSN (Canada), while the WNBA gets no rights fee but has a revenue-sharing deal with ESPN and ABC. Without a big rights fee to protect, TV networks and sponsors do minimal promotion.

Although many of the best WUSA and WNBA players are married and mothers as well, athletes, administrators and women's sports leaders ... acknowledge the perception that women's pro teams are filled with gay athletes has had an effect on popularity.

"Many male friends I talk to have the stereotyped idea that a lot of female athletes are homosexuals," said Ruth Riley, former Notre Dame star and center for the WNBA's Detroit Shock. "Maybe that does keep them from coming to watch_unless they are bringing their daughters."

The WNBA's audience is 80 percent women, according to Val Ackerman, who called the league's fans "different" and said the appeal to gay women "is a plus.

"But it really is a non-issue."