The WNBA is experiencing a significant surge in popularity, and former league MVP Tina Charles from the Atlanta Dream credits the league's new generation of players, particularly Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, for this revitalization.

Speaking with TMZ Sports, Charles emphasized the impact of the rookies and young stars, noting how their presence has injected new energy into the league.

“The energy that we're getting, the reception, the eyes that we're getting on us — this is amazing,” Charles said. “It's just because of the new generation that's coming in.”

This season, the WNBA has seen a remarkable increase in various metrics, from jersey sales to ticket purchases, and even television viewership, which has reached historic highs. The excitement surrounding the league has led to players receiving chartered flights to and from away games, a significant upgrade reflecting the league's growth.

Charles specifically mentioned Clark, the 2024 No. 1 draft pick, as a pivotal figure in this transformation.

“Clark is helping make it all happen,” Charles said, while also acknowledging other standout rookies like Cameron Brink and Angel Reese for their contributions.

The buzz around Clark is undeniable. The former Iowa women’s basketball star brought in huge audiences during her college career, and that momentum has carried over into her professional debut.

Sue Bird's call to action around WNBA rookies like Caitlin Clark

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark pose for photos before the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The excitement surrounding young stars like Clark has not gone unnoticed by WNBA legend Sue Bird. Bird issued a stark warning to the league, emphasizing the need to capitalize on the popularity of players like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins to ensure they stay in the league rather than going overseas.

“When I started to see that, I literally thought to myself – I’ve never said this out loud, but from, not a player standpoint, but like a WNBA League business standpoint, they can’t let these kids ever go overseas,” Bird said previously. She stressed the importance of the WNBA making strategic moves to retain these players and their substantial fan bases.

Las Vegas Aces star Candace Parker also weighed in on Caitlin Clark's impact, drawing comparisons between Clark and legends of the NBA and NFL. Parker noted that Clark's ability to attract massive audiences is akin to how certain players in men's sports have elevated their games' profiles.

“It’s putting the sport at the forefront. We’ve seen it in the NFL, we’ve seen in the NBA and how certain players come in, and yes, they’re still going to be remembered — but it’s about raising the game and that’s what’s most important to me,” Parker said.

Clark's influence on the league was particularly evident when this year’s draft racked in, drawing an average of 2.446 million viewers on ESPN, marking a staggering 307% uptick from last year’s draft viewership. Her regular season debut with Indiana May 15 became the most-watched WNBA game in nearly 23 years, averaging 2.12 million viewers on ESPN2 and an additional 13,000 on ESPN Deportes. The viewership surpasses any game since the Los Angeles Sparks faced the Houston Comets on Memorial Day 2001, which drew 2.44 million viewers. It was also the WNBA's top audience ever on cable.