Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson issued a rallying cry to her fellow WNBA players as the league prepares for a highly anticipated 2024 season, set to begin Tuesday, urging them to be ready to capitalize on the growing popularity and interest in women's basketball.
Speaking candidly about the league’s current trajectory with Boardroom's Vinciane Ngomsi, Wilson emphasized the importance of making a lasting first impression on new fans and ensuring that the rising interest translates into long-term support for the WNBA.
“We have to be ready for anything because the first impression, it has to be the best impression, when we're talking about the WNBA,” Wilson said. “So I think for us as the W, and I'm speaking for an entire league right now which is scary, we have to really be better at being ready and in the moment.”
Wilson's comments come at a time when the WNBA is experiencing a surge in popularity, reminiscent of the NBA's growth in the 1980s. The league is building a new generation of stars, with rookies like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink entering the spotlight alongside established names such as Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu. The latter recently showcased her talent in a high-profile three-point contest against Stephen Curry during NBA All-Star Weekend, which added to the growing attention around the WNBA.
“We're in a movement and I pray it's a movement and not a trend because we die down very, very quickly,” Wilson said. “People die down, the hype be here then it drops, but the movement I feel like we have to do a better job of understanding what the movement is and being ready for that and know that this is the growth that we've been wanting, this is the growth that we've needed and now it's about time.”
Growing interest in WNBA reflected in financial support
The increasing interest in the WNBA is also reflected in the financial support for women’s sports. Wilson, a prominent advocate for female athletes, has been vocal about the need for greater investment. Speaking at this year’s TIME100 Summit in April, she encouraged fans to support women's sports financially, highlighting the direct impact such support can have on the growth and sustainability of the league.
“Buy that jersey. Go to that game, take someone else, put your money where your mouth is and invest in these women,” Wilson said.
The call to action is especially relevant as discussions about the disparity in funding and media attention between men's and women's sports continue to gain momentum.
The impact of rising stars like Clark further highlights the WNBA's growing popularity. Clark, the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever in the draft, has already proven to be a significant draw for the league. The Fever announced that 36 of their 40 games will be nationally televised during the 2024 WNBA season across multiple networks, including ABC, CBS, and ESPN, marking a substantial increase from the previous year. Clark’s debut in the league is expected to boost viewership and attract more fans to women's basketball.
Wilson also touched on the recent changes in NCAA policies allowing college athletes to earn from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Reflecting on these changes, she noted the potential financial benefits that current athletes can access, benefits that were not available during her own college career.
“Obviously, my bank account would be the biggest difference but I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I would have an agent in college,” Wilson said. She emphasized the importance of athletes maintaining their authenticity and values, particularly in sponsorship deals, and highlighted her commitment to being a role model for young Black girls.
The surge in popularity of women's basketball is compelling more companies to consider significant investments in the sport. A report from Sports Innovation Lab indicated that while 83% of brands plan to increase their investment in women’s sports by 2024, currently, only a fraction of sports marketing budgets is allocated to women's sports.
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