4 Monumental Impacts Made by Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and Other WNBA Rookies Within Opening Week

The WNBA rookie class of 2024 needs no introduction. After making a blockbuster entry into the professional realm, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Cameron Brink have correctly justified all the hype and expectations in the opening week itself. Moreover, all these terrific athletes have been instrumental in elevating the popularity of the sport to new heights. Proof of which was shared recently by an eminent journalist.

Staff Writer ForTheWin Meghan L. Hall posted some interesting developments using her X account. In a series of updates, she put forth the growth of the WNBA in this season. According to the numbers, the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever are the frontrunners in the +14% year-over-year surge in average attendance. Moreover, both teams drew over 17K spectators in their home openers. Apart from this, there have been a total of 10 sellouts throughout the league with the Washington Mystics and the Dallas Wings witnessing 2 each. This is a +150% increase if compared to 2023’s Opening Week.

Similarly, the number of people downloading the official WNBA app in the initial days took a +146% year-over-year hit northwards. A somewhat identical trend is noticeable in the league Pass subscriptions which took a year-over-year hike of over 182%. The craziness doesn’t end here. Apparently, the sales at the WNBA Store suggest a 2260% escalation in the purchase of merchandise.

As a result, all these rookies are getting the due appreciation for making such a huge impact in their opening season.

WNBA Icon Tina Charles applauds the new generation

Iconic center Tina Charles laid out her honest take on what influence the current lot of rookies have on the sport. Talking to TMZ Sports recently, she said, “The energy that we’re getting, the reception, the eyes that we’re getting on us, it’s amazing. It’s just because of that new generation that’s coming in.”

The 8x WNBA All-Star also expressed her gratitude to these new stars for their contributions in carrying the sport forward. She further added, “They’ve just taken the baton from ’97 and just bringing us forward. Just very thankful for their skill, just how they’re handling themselves and the media. It’s just bringing us along.”

There is no denying that all these rookies are deserving of all the credit. The way they have boosted the overall spirit of the division is truly commendable. It’s still early days, but the signs in the opening month are very promising.