The WNBA has been a must-watch staple for hardcore hoop fans for nearly 30 years. But, the 2024 season was the one that catapulted the W to the mainstream. From rookie phenomenons and history book revisions to sellout crowds and new champions, it was quite a year for the league.
Here are the biggest reasons why:
Rookie-Mania
The 2024 WNBA Draft was stacked with talent. It was headlined by the arguably biggest prospect in league history, Caitlin Clark, and lit up by other prospects, including Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Aaliyah Edwards and more, making it one of the most memorable draft classes to date and creating tons of new-fan buzz.
The rooks not only stirred up excitement, but they also convincingly broke records. Eventual Rookie of The Year Caitlin Clark became the first rookie to ever record a triple-double. She also wound up setting the single-season record for assists and the rookie record for points, all while helping the Indiana Fever secure a postseason appearance.
Angel Reese broke the record for most single-season rebounds, most consecutive double-doubles, most double-doubles by a rookie and averaged the most rebounds per game in league history. That’s not even all of the accolades she gathered in year one.
The W was on fire this season and this wave of rooks had quite a bit to do with it.
A’ja goes GOAT
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We all knew that A’ja Wilson had that dawg in her. But this season, she proved she’s got that GOAT right there next to it.
Nearly anything you could accomplish as a professional basketball player this season, she did. NBA 2K cover, plans of a Nike signature shoe, an Olympic gold medal, another WNBA MVP and only games away from another WNBA Finals. A’ja was on a different type of timing.
Wilson also went on to set the record for most points in a single season, recorded the first 1,000-point season in WNBA history and averaged career highs in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals, while also finishing as the runner-up for Defensive Player of The Year, solidifying what may have been the single greatest season in W history.
The Liberty bring home the hardware
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After numerous opportunities to bring it home on the big stage, the New York Liberty finally made it over the hump and captured their first WNBA championship after 28 seasons. The Liberty came into the 2024 season after a disappointing defeat to the Las Vegas Aces in last year’s Finals. Instead of hanging their heads, they were firing on all cylinders, bringing New York home their first basketball-related championship since the then-New York Nets won the ABA title in 1976.
The achievement brought a huge sigh of relief and a wave of happiness for one of the WNBA’s original franchises. The series also provided the most-viewed WNBA Finals game in over 25 years, with the Game 5 matchup peaking at over 3.3 million total views, another testament to the growth of the league.
