That's an interesting question. In my experience playing sports and just being a man I think boys learn about physical limits and mutual respect in a very different way from women. I don't know if it is innate or cultural. May be a bit of both.

Of course we aren't even supposed to talk about these things but I don't care. I forget who I first heard explain this but you see the difference in conflict resolution between men and women when you observe how some women (not most) will speak to a man that is much larger than them vs. how a man of the same stature would. Boys when I was growing up learned really fast that if they open their mouth they better be prepared for at least the possibility of violence. I think it is different for girls. At least it used to be.

I've talked to my wife about this and she mostly agrees but she points out how girls fight in a much more advanced and subtle way. Point is, I think this whole WNBA thing is complicated and the way the WNBA has positioned itself as you say, doesn't help.