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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 10: Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Fever on September 10, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Pepper Robinson/NBAE via Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 10: Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx dribbles the ball during the game against the Indiana Fever on September 10, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Pepper Robinson/NBAE via Getty Images)
In 1979, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson entered a faltering NBA and helped turn the league’s fortunes around. More than forty years later, the WNBA is arriving at a similar turning point. A rookie class, that includes the likes of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and more, that no one can deny, is as good as advertised. Their seamless transition from collegiate players to pros who blend well with WNBA veterans is something to behold. Even Minnesota Lynx veteran Napheesa Collier hasn’t held back from praising this rookie class.
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Collier joined forces with CBS host Jon Wertheim to share her feelings after winning the Defensive Player of the Year title. Drafted in 2019, the two-time Olympic gold medalist bridges two eras of the WNBA. Naturally, Wertheim asked her about the impact the 2024 rookie class has had on the women’s league. “Did you have the level of confidence that this draft class seems to?”
“I don’t think anybody has (laughs) the level of confidence this draft class does. I think that’s what’s so amazing about them. They don’t act like rookies. It feels like nothing gets them down. And I think that’s amazing,” expressed Collier, nodding to Angel Reese’s and Caitlin Clark’s dominance.
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Well, she’s right. Both Clark and Reese haven’t just shattered rookie records, but they’ve also taken over some veteran WNBA players. While Angel Reese led the league in rebounding this season with an average of 13.1 RPG, Clark was first in assists, averaging 8.4 APG in the regular season. The Indiana Fever rookie also won the Rookie of the Year award after a stunning season. But that’s not it. It’s their impact that has brought more eyeballs to the once-maligned league.
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JUNE 16: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky look on during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Last season, 227,979 tickets were sold for Indiana Fever games. This season, the number was 643,343, a jump of 182%. 9,800 tickets were sold on average by the WNBA this year, an unprecedented number. While Clark and Reese’s matchups in college drew record audiences, the same carried over to the W. But Collier didn’t stop at praising the rookie class.
Napheesa Collier also compared the NBA with the WNBA
For Napheesa Collier, the WNBA is better than the NBA due to the competitiveness between the teams. “The men are really fun. They are very athletic. They can dunk and all those things, but if you’re a true fan of basketball, I think ours is more interesting,” she stated during the interview with CBS. According to Collier, the women’s league plays basketball the “right” and “smart” way.
This is because the WNBA season is comparatively shorter, with only 12 teams, each consisting of 12 players. This creates “144 of the world’s best” rosters. Collier didn’t just limit herself to the rookie class—she also gave veterans the recognition they deserve. “A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, the league’s reigning champs… Diana Taurasi, still doing this in her early 40s,” Collier added.
And she’s right. Despite its challenges, the WNBA has shown tremendous growth. All credit goes to the players who feature impressive gameplay, which is quite evident as the women surpass even some NBA records. This gives Taurasi, the six-time Olympic gold medalist, a fitting farewell from the league with a long list of accolades. We are well and truly in a new era of women’s basketball.
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Edited by
Pragya Vashisth