This WNBA Season Is Already Fantastic, And It Hasn’t Even Started Yet
This week, the official tipoff of the WNBA season will be met with much excitement. Much of that can be pointed towards the anticipation of watching the most hyped rookie class the league has seen. However, there are already a few other elements that revolve around the growth of the league that can already be considered a great success.
The Caitlin Clark Effect
“The Caitlin Clark effect” actually has a multidimensional meaning. In this case, we will focus on how Clark has impacted ticket sales. The new star of the Indiana Fever (and first pick of the draft) #22 helped bring in 13,000 fans to the Fever’s recent pre-season game in Indianapolis.
“The atmosphere inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis belied the less important nature of a preseason game, the crowd whooping loudly as Clark made her first home bucket on a driving layup in the first half,” CNN said.
In the past, the Fever averaged around 4,000 fans in attendance. So, having 13,000 fans for a pre-season game is a big deal.
Toronto Was Awarded The Next WNBA Franchise
The league is expanding and the next new franchise was just awarded. On May 10, it was announced the WNBA is growing to be international. The new team is expected to start playing in the 2026 season. Toronto will now have a professional team in the MLB, NHL, NBA, and WNBA.
More information, including a team name, is expected to be unveiled later this year.
A’ja Wilson Scores A Big Shoe Deal With Nike
This season, the Las Vegas Aces have their sights set on a three-peat championship run. One of their star players is already off to a fast start. It has been confirmed that A’ja Wilson will have a signature shoe from Nike.
Boardroom recently shared a quote from Wilson discussing the shoe. Wilson said, “From my logo to the look of the shoe and the pieces throughout the collection, we’ve worked to make sure every detail is perfectly tuned to my game and style.”
Wilson was back at the University of South Carolina campus (sporting a Nike shirt that read, “Of Course I Have A Shoe Dot Com” during the visit) when the news was announced. South Carolina just won the NCAA women’s championship, and their star player, Kamilla Cardoso, was drafted third by the Chicago Sky.
What’s Next For This WNBA Season?
On Tuesday May 14, rookies Clark, and the defending champion Aces will start their season. The Fever will be in Connecticut. Cardoso, and other high-profile rookies such as Cameron Brink and Angel Reese will make their WNBA debuts.
