Caitlin Clark, 2024 WNBA rookie class aiming to bring college fans, business viability to league

After elevating women's college basketball, Clark, Angel Reese and Co. are hoping to do the same for the WNBA

By Erica Ayala May 2, 2024 at 2:32 am ET• 8 min read

Women's basketball is undeniably on the rise, and WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are among the sport's most recognizable names.

For the first time, the NCAA Women's Tournament saw record viewership, and the championship game between Iowa and South Carolina outdrew the men's championship game. For a second year in a row, Clark and Reese battled in one of the most-viewed NCAA women's basketball games in history. 

Now, stars like Clark, Reese and the rest of the 2024 rookie class are aiming to help grow the WNBA as they helped grow college basketball.

What's at stake for the WNBA?

Simply put, the WNBA is looking for financial viability, or as WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert put it on draft night, a business transformation.