The study by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport pointed out that the percentage of women employed in WNBA league offices was the lowest since 1998, falling from 90 percent in 2004 to 70 percent in 2005.

"There's been an increasing percentage of men in administrative positions on WNBA teams pretty gradually since the start," said study author Richard Lapchick. "They had almost 100 percent women in a lot of categories. The WNBA has become comfortable enough with itself that they're bringing men into that picture."

The number of black players fell 3 percent from the previous year to 63 percent, while international players increased 3 percent to make up 19 percent of the total.

The WNBA had its lowest percentage of minority coaches since 1998, with 15 percent ¡ª a 16-point drop from 2004. However, those numbers aren't weighted as highly in the study as front-office personnel, such as female presidents and CEOs, which increased to four in 2006.

The league also hired Donna Orender, the only woman league president, in 2005.

Lapchick gave the WNBA the only A for gender diversity in pro sports. The league also received an A in racial diversity, joining the NBA as the only pro leagues to achieve that distinction.

It's the third time the WNBA has received an overall A for both racial and gender diversity combined, a first in the 14-year history of the study.

"They started out with (diversity) as a primary commitment," Lapchick said.

A WNBA spokeswoman reached by telephone Thursday afternoon had not seen the study and did not immediately comment.