The reception for the women ’ s league has been positive overall , at least according to the players .
“ It grew like crazy , “ said Alex del Mar of the Heroeins . “ I didn ’ t expect there to be such a big fan base or for it to explode the way it did after just one event . One minute , no one knows who you are , and the next you have a thousand new followers on Instagram and strangers liking your page . It was pretty surreal .”
Social media stats aren ’ t the ones that Del Mar is concerned about at the end of the day .
“ I ’ m all about the game , not the fame ,” she said .
But , as Cook pointed out , that growth did not come without its challenges , and the
industry is learning that with women , there is a different way to do business .
“ Women are just different ,” Cook said . “ There is a different level of emotions , attendance often affected by families and other responsibilities . Many of these women have kids , and being a mom comes with other responsibilities . There is no backup . You ’ re it .”
And then you have to take the cost into consideration .
“ What if you man plays , too ?” Cook quipped . “ How do you afford it as a family ? A lot of times , it ’ s the woman who is expected to make the cutback and that sacrifice .”
According to Del Mar , however , the industry seems to have rallied behind the WNXL .
PHOTO BY GARY BAUM www . paintball . media
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