On July 15th, Kate Martin got to play in the third quarter against the Washington Mystics. Even though it was late, the six-foot guard was keen for the opportunity to knock. And showcase it, she did. When guard Jade Melbourne was about to receive the ball, Martin quickly threw her body to block the opponent. Since then, among the sea of rookies this year, Martin has been in the good books of many, and Sheryl Swoopes is one of them.

On July 30th, four-time WNBA champion Sheryl Swoopes joined forces with Sarah Spain to discuss what’s happening in the WNBA. As the two ladies discussed the impact of rookies this season, Swoopes said, “My biggest thing was, I think, what Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, who I am a huge fan of. I love Kate Martin. I love Kate Martin, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Camilla Cardoso.”

While Swoopes mentioned a host of players, she also stressed her favorite: Kate Martin. The second-round pick by the Aces has been a solid contributor this season. Despite fluctuating minutes, she’s averaging 3.6 points with 2 rebounds in the past 21 games. It seems Martin has been part of each game.

However, as aforementioned, Swoopes’ acknowledgment extended to the whole rookie class.

She continued, “I think what they’ve done, what they continue to do for this league is incredible. Without a doubt, we are at a place and space that we’ve never been before.” For Swoopes, the rookie class is a hit due to the viewership they’ve brought to WNBA arenas, and she’s right—at least, that’s what the stats suggest.

Since the 2024 WNBA draft, the women’s league has witnessed a significant upsurge in growth. In May alone, the league managed to fill arenas up to 94%. Even the All-Star game, where Reese and Clark became the first rookie duo to make the team since 2014, saw a record high viewership of 3.4 million on ABC. By doing so, the game smoothly surpassed the previous record of 1.4 million viewers in 2003. However, Swoopes did not end here.

“Just let these women be great” Swoopes’ salute to legends

Being a three-time Olympic gold medalist, Swoopes knows the sweat and blood players pour into the WNBA. So, without any hesitation, she added, “But I also don’t want us to forget about the A’ja Wilsons, the Diana Taurasis, the players that have been here that continue to do everything they can do to uplift this sport. It’s been competitive, it continues to be competitive, like just let these women be great.”

Well, all these players she mentioned are well-experienced. While Diana Taurasi is playing her sixth Olympic games, Wilson boasts the record of highest averaging scorer in the league. Sure enough, these stats speak up for both legendary players. Even both players are part of the increasing interest in women’s basketball globally.

So, both rookies and legends play a vital role in the WNBA’s changing dynamics. But the question is: Will the WNBA continue to see growth? Stay tuned to know!

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.