On Sunday night, New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello declared enthusiastically that her team’s WNBA championship was one for the history books.
The Liberty had just defeated the Minnesota Lynx in a crucial Game 5 overtime to win their first title in the franchise’s 28-year history. It also marked the first major professional basketball title in New York City in over four decades. “That makes me very proud,” Brondello said.
But the history books were rewritten multiple times during the monumental 2024 WNBA season.
“The finals signify the culmination of what I believe is the most transformative year in the WNBA’s history,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated last week before the finals. The fifth game of the series was the most-viewed finals game in 25 years, with viewership for the entire series up 115% compared to last year’s finals.
Four years after a pivotal moment, the WNBA rose to unprecedented levels of popularity. Viewership, attendance, merchandise sales, and digital engagement were all at or near record levels. A groundbreaking media rights deal worth over $2 billion for 11 years was signed this summer, indicating future growth.
MOST-VIEWED WNBA FINALS IN 25 YEARS 🔥🎉 pic.twitter.com/P0Sj7M6s9u
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) October 22, 2024
Last year, the WNBA announced the addition of the Golden State Valkyries as the 13th franchise for 2025. Toronto will host the 14th franchise, and Portland will have the 15th team starting in 2026. Portland’s franchise attracted a fee of $125 million, more than doubling the initial expansion fees and the cost for the Golden State Warriors ownership group a year earlier.
Engelbert mentioned that the price for expansion fees continues to rise, and they are considering 10 to 12 cities as viable options for the league’s 16th franchise.
“They see the economic impact of having a WNBA team in their city, the role models these players represent in the community,” Engelbert explained.
The Indiana Fever drafted Caitlin Clark as the No. 1 pick, leading to record-breaking viewership and attendance increases. Clark’s popularity transitioned seamlessly to the WNBA, where she set rookie records and received numerous accolades.
Caitlin Clark’s rookie year highlights 💥
the first player in @WNBA history to finish a season as the league’s assist leader and top 10 in scoring – 19.2 PPG, 8.4 APG, 5.7 RPG and 3.1 3PM.
watch the full 20+ minutes on our YouTube: https://t.co/2PX5b3Ulde pic.twitter.com/adPhOuvAMg
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 11, 2024
The women’s basketball season moves swiftly, with the college season beginning in two weeks. The upcoming season is expected to carry on the momentum from the previous year.
At the college level, stars like UConn’s Paige Bueckers and USC’s JuJu Watkins are primed for success, aiming to contend for a title alongside reigning champion South Carolina. The 2024-25 national championship will air on ABC and conclude a season with a new media rights package.
A new professional league called Unrivaled will debut in January, featuring top players and promising the highest average salary in women’s professional sports history.
Despite challenges, women’s basketball continues to grow in popularity. WNBA players are advocating for higher salaries and improved working conditions, while facing increased online harassment. The sport’s upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down.
“Women’s basketball is on such a rise right now,” said co-founder Napheesa Collier.
Cheryl Reeve, Lynx coach, expressed her excitement for the sport’s growth as they continue to reach new heights.
(Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
