The long-range plans of the WBNA likely took a major hit Wednesday when the Chicago Bulls decided to end their attempt to pursue a franchise.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls based their decision on a lack of response to a season-ticket drive. The team wanted 7,500 $100 deposits, but received less than 1,000.

Doom and gloom is written all over the 16-team WNBA, which recently ended its fifth season. The league hasn't turned a profit, and its television ratings declined this past season, although playoff attendance increased.

Funny how the Chicago debacle occurs now that the Bulls are mired at the bottom of the NBA and their former cash cow, Michael Jordan, is playing for another team. They probably need to round up all potential resources to make sure the franchise doesn't sink into the National Basketball Developmental League.

But, back to the WNBA, where several factors are at work. The WNBA and its financial backer, the big ol' NBA itself, made a grave error by not establishing a franchise in Chicago at conception. All those years ago, however, the Jordanaires were on top of the professional basketball universe and uninterested in a product that wasn't up to their standards. Funny how things change, when it finally became clear to Bulls management that they didn't have to worry about its staff working into June anymore.