Nothing but Net

On October 20, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) ended its season with a nail-biting championship game between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. The Liberty won its first-ever league title.

CHAMPIONSHIP WIN The New York Liberty’s Jonquel Jones celebrates with team mascot Ellie the Elephant on October 20.

The 2024 season included other record-setting achievements. The WNBA had its most-watched regular season in 24 years. WNBA games also had their best attendance in 22 seasons. And merchandise × merchandise items for sale, such as T-shirts and hats (noun) raked in the cash. Sales were up 601% from 2023, says a league press release.

With the 2024 WNBA season having made history, the league is poised to expand. It has inspired young athletes around the country.

Investing in Hoops

Cathy Engelbert is league commissioner. She says the WNBA’s rise is the result of careful investment. There’s “a lot of capital × capital money or other assets (noun) flowing in,” Engelbert told TIME’s Sean Gregory. “Our owners are investing in practice facilities and player experience.”

PROMISING START The Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark drives past a defender. Clark was also chosen for the All-Star Team this year.

Powerhouse players are attracting new audiences. Rookie × rookie having to do with a beginner in a profession (adjective) stars—such as Caitlin Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, and Angel Reese, who plays for the Chicago Sky—have drawn in viewers. And veteran players are showing new fans how competitive the sport is. A’ja Wilson, for example, set two league records this year. The Las Vegas Aces player earned 1,021 points and 451 rebounds during the regular season.

MVP ALERT A’ja Wilson reaches for a pass on October 1. This year, Wilson became the first WNBA player to hit 1,000 points in a season.

Now the WNBA is looking ahead. Soon, the league will expand. A new team, the Golden State Valkyries, will begin play in San Francisco next year. Toronto, Canada, and Portland, Oregon, expect to see their teams begin play in 2026. Engelbert hopes the league will expand even further. Many cities have said they want their own team.

Next Generation

Caela Ellis is a high school girls’ basketball coach. She works at Cranbrook Upper School, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Ellis says the new attention to the WNBA is great for her players. “From a role-model perspective, WNBA players are really inspiring,” Ellis told TIME for Kids.

FROM WNBA TO TEAM USA The 2024 U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team shows off its gold at the Paris Olympics.

Plus, “it’s not just about what they do on the court,” Ellis says. She notes that WNBA players have started businesses and are actively giving back to their communities. Now, Ellis says, her high school players have “a different ceiling when it comes to their dreams.”