The WNBA playoffs are here: A game-changer for women’s sports

The WNBA playoffs kicked off yesterday, marking the start of an exciting chapter following a record-breaking regular season that could redefine the league and elevate women’s professional sports.

In the spring, all eyes were on rising stars like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese, who generated serious buzz. And spoiler alert: they delivered.

In a big win for Clark, she was unanimously named Rookie of the Year. While A’ja Wilson from the Las Vegas Aces took home the MVP title (the second player in WNBA history to achieve a unanimous vote), Clark's impact on the league has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Let’s talk numbers: her games for the Indiana Fever drew massive TV ratings and packed arenas. According to Sportico, 21 out of the 24 WNBA broadcasts that crossed the 1 million viewer mark this season featured Clark. For context, no WNBA game had hit that milestone since 2008.

And the Fever's home games? Attendance skyrocketed to an average of 17,035 fans, a whopping 319% increase from last year’s 4,067. In fact, teams hosting the Fever were so eager to accommodate crowds that they moved games to NBA arenas. Last Thursday, the Fever faced the Mystics in front of a record-breaking 20,711 fans at Capital One Arena in D.C.—the largest crowd ever for a WNBA matchup.

Hold on though - it’s not just Clark making waves. Overall viewership and attendance for the league saw impressive growth. ESPN reported a 170% increase in TV audiences for WNBA regular-season games compared to last year, while Ion recorded a 133% jump. Even better? Men aged 25 to 54 tuned in 181% more. Every team enjoyed double-digit attendance increases.

And now, the financial upswing is evident. This summer the WNBA locked in a groundbreaking 11-year media rights deal valued at an impressive $2.2 billion, set to begin in 2026. That’s a cool $200 million a year—more than triple the current contract’s $60 million. Yet, the head of the players' association has voiced that even this landmark deal doesn’t fully capture the league's value, especially considering the pay disparity faced by marquee talent.

Looking ahead, the playoffs will compete for attention against the NFL and other fall sports. But with queens like Clark and the Fever in the playoffs, expect to see more milestones shattered.