Nowadays, we are seeing more media coverage of professional women’s sports, and specifically women’s basketball. Social media platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok have all pushed the growth of the WNBA, and even sports networks like ESPN have begun to talk more about women’s sports in general.
The growth of the WNBA can be widely attributed to collegiate basketball and the young superstars entering the league. You’ve probably heard names like Caitlyn Clark, Angel Reese, or Cameron Brink. These are all some of the rookie superstars who were recently taken in the 2024 WNBA draft.
The entering of new young talent is auxiliary to an already growing league. Last year, the WNBA saw the highest number of unique viewers in more than a decade. Live attendance numbers are up as well, last season the Las Vegas Aces sold out 75% of their home games, setting a WNBA record.
How did we get here? The WNBA was founded by the NBA Board of Governors in 1996, and the first ever season started in the summer of 1997, with the original eight teams; the Cleveland Rockers, the Charlotte Sting, the Houston Comets, the Sacramento Monarchs, the New York Liberty, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Phoenix Mercury, the Utah Starzz. Since then, the league has grown into twelve teams, with plans to add two more before the 2026 season kicks off.
NBA superstar Kevin Durant had this to say about women’s professional basketball: “I think more people should watch women’s basketball…It’d do so much for the game”. KD isn’t alone with that opinion either, fellow NBA star LeBron James said this when asked about the growth of female professional sports: “I think you have to give respect where it’s due. No matter if you’re a male or a female”.
One thing is clear. The WNBA isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and along with this blossoming league, womens professional sports will continue to see growth across the board. We’re already seeing it! Women’s tennis, soccer, and golf coverages have all seen growth, and people are more interested than ever before!
