I'll watch the WNBA from time to time if they're on ABC or ESPN2 when two of the better teams play. You can't compare the WNBA to the NBA. It's just not how it works. You have to take it for what it's worth. There won't be highlight dunks. There won't be anywhere close to the explosive drives or crossovers that NBA players demonstrate. But, there are some terrific players in the league as well. Diana Taurasi is amazing to watch. And, Candace Parker is unbelievable. Tamika Catchings and Deanna Nolan are amazing athletes for women. But, it just doesn't compare to the athleticism of NBA players. So, if the gauge is the NBA, then it will obviously fall quite short of the standard.
However, if you watch to see quality basketball, you can often find it. There are missed lay-ups from time to time. Transition breaks appear to be much slower than an NBA fastbreak. But, the game is the same. The goal is the same. And, there are not only some good players, but good coaching, and good plays out there.
To me, I like watching basketball. I can sit and watch freshman high school basketball and be interested. So, it doesn't take much for me because I'm a basketball fan. And, guaranteed there are some WNBA games that are more interesting than some NBA match-ups, say between teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks or Minnesota versus Milwaukee. The game might be faster and you still might get fastbreak dunks and highlight plays. But, a game between the LA Sparks and the Detroit Shock might be better played and more entertaining.