Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and the 2024 rookie class have been hailed for their impact on the WNBA, bringing “attention and eyeballs” to the league.
The WNBA has enjoyed a huge uplift in viewership this season, with No. 1 overall pick Clark leading the way. The Indiana Fever sensation has had a transformative effect on the league, driving interest with mainstream audiences.
Clark’s influence has been boosted by a star-studded supporting cast, including Chicago Sky duo Reese and Kamilla Cardoso and Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink – all of whom made their names at the collegiate level.
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ESPN has benefited from a 170 percent year-on-year growth in viewership across its platforms this season, and New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai – whose team faces the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday – has paid homage to the 2024 rookie class for changing the sport.
“Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Cameron Brink, a lot of these players became household names even before they entered the draft,” Wu Tsai told CNN. “They are a highly skilled rookie class and brought a lot of attention and eyeballs to the WNBA.”
Wu Tsai singled out Rookie of the Year Clark for her influence, with her shooting from beyond the arc captivating fans and taking women’s basketball to a new level.
Clara Wu Tsai is full of praise for Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese (
Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
“The thing with Caitlin is that people come to watch her style of play,” she said. “The logo three is basically the equivalent of our dunk. We don’t need to dunk. We have the logo three. That kind of basketball people wanna see, and they want to see it in person. It is because of her and the entire rookie class that we saw such an upswing in viewership.”
She continued: “Attracting new fans is very important. It’s essential for the league to continue to grow. At the same time, we have to recognize our oldest and most loyal fans because we wouldn’t be where we are today without them,” Wu Tsai acknowledged.
“It is our responsibility to make sure the franchise is financially sound so we can continue to invest in the franchise and tap into the entire business potential of the WNBA. This year, because there was a surge in demand, we have a waitlist for our courtside tickets.”
Clark set a long list of WNBA records in her rookie campaign, including the single-season assist record and most points by a point guard. After a chastening 1-8 start to the season, she led the Fever to a 20-20 record before being eliminated by Connecticut Sun in the first round of the playoffs.
Former LSU star Reese also made her mark in her rookie season, averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Her 26 regular-season double-doubles is a WNBA record for a rookie.
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