10 Reasons Why You Should Be Watching the WNBA (If You Aren’t Already)
Sad your NBA team was eliminated from the playoffs? Looking for a new league to hyper-fixate on? Wanting a little more than just the game? Enter the W. With the WNBA season just beginning, there’s plenty of time to become a megafan of this iconic league. Still need some convincing? Here are our 10 reasons why you need to be watching the WNBA.
WNBA All-Stars Game (Dylan Goodman/NBAE via Getty)
The Skill
With a shorter height and wing span than the average NBA player, WNBA players don’t lower the rim. They increase the technique. These athletes play smarter with sharp passing, crisp footwork, and precise shooting. Instead of relying solely on athleticism, the W is powered by pure skill and teamwork. Think less ego and more execution, with individual technique and team chemistry. While there are undeniable stars in the W, this league collaborates on the court in a way you won’t see anywhere else.
Want some proof of the skill? Here is Sabrina Ionescu’s record-breaking three-point contest, where she made 37/40 three-pointers. Second-highest score in contest history? That would be Steph Curry with 31.
2. The Crashouts
If the technicality of the W doesn’t entice you, perhaps the technicals will (or, in other words, the drama). The W does not hold back. Whether it’s arguing the refs after a call, chirping at the opposing team, or delivering a hard foul, the W can turn into a soap opera. Sometimes, players get so heated that their teammates become the designated “de-escalation committee” (yes, we’re talking about you, Caitlin Clark). It doesn’t matter if players are best friends in real life because the court is a battleground. Tensions run high, emotions run hot, and no one is afraid to speak or act their mind. Grab the popcorn and get ready for a game and a show!
3. The Tunnel Fits
So, the WNBA is a basketball game, a soap opera, and a fashion show. These players treat the tunnel like the runway, making a statement with both their outfits and their game on the court. The same player will catwalk into the arena in heels and a designer dress and then walk out with a triple-double. This is the real-life manifestation of Beauty and the Beast, by the way.
4. The Couples
Playing against your partner in the playoffs? Sounds like a great movie plotline… and it also happens to be a real story from the W last season. Dijonai Carrington from the Connecticut Sun and Nalyssa Smith from the Indiana Fever have been dating since their Baylor days, but they found themselves in a vicious first-round playoff matchup. Now, that’s what you call an enemies-to-lovers arc… or is it lovers-to-enemies? Now, Carrington and Smith are both playing for the Dallas Wings, and their relationship is still going strong (we think). All you need is love… and perhaps a championship trophy with your significant other. Whether it’s playing with or against the love of your life, the WNBA has tons of other love and heartbreak stories that keep the drama circulating. This might be the only relationship situation that Taylor Swift doesn’t have a song for.
Dijonai Carrington and Nalyssa Smith (Getty Images)
5. The Pace
The stakes are significantly higher for every WNBA game, given the season consists of only 44 regular-season games compared to the NBA's 82 games. This means that once the season starts, the players hit the ground running, leaving no room for mistakes. The “We’ll get ‘em next time” mentality doesn’t work when every game counts and the margin of error is paper-thin.
The pace of each WNBA game is also significantly more intense, with 10-minute quarters instead of 12, resulting in games that are 8 minutes shorter than those in the NBA. This time crunch, along with the reduced number of timeouts in the W, creates a faster-paced, higher-pressure basketball game than other leagues. No wiggle room, no warmup, and no room to breathe. It's just 40 minutes of pure basketball chaos.
New York Liberty Championship (Elsa/Getty Images)
6. The “Off”-Season
The WNBA doesn’t really have an “off” season at all. After the championship game, most of the athletes either ship off to overseas leagues or start gearing up for the Unrivaled League. In the shorter 3x3 games in Unrivaled, you get to see your favorite WNBA stars show off their individual skills on some unlikely paired teams. Ever wanted to see your favorite two players on the same team or witness the drama of two enemies having to pass each other the ball? On the Unrivaled court, rivals become teammates, and teammates become opponents. It’s like a fantasy basketball game playing out in real life. No post-season blues here– the game (and the drama) continue all year round in the WNBA.
Unrivaled League (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
7. The Activism
The WNBA has never been just about basketball. As a league comprising primarily of LGBTQ+ women and women of color, the W consistently leads the charge in speaking out. Whether it’s racial justice, equal pay, or LGBTQ+ rights, WNBA players don’t wait for the green light before speaking out about what's right. They take playing with purpose to a whole new level.
WNBA Say Her Name (Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
8. The Brand Deals
The W is finally getting the brand deals it deserves– and this goes way beyond sneakers. While we love Sabrina’s shoes and A’ja Wilson’s Nike line, the W has picked up some pretty unconventional partnerships over the years that make the league unique, too. The tunnel fit and on-court glam (we see you, Dijonai Carrington and Rickea Jackson) have attracted major beauty brands to support the W, including Fenty Beauty, Covergirl, Coach, Sephora, Skims, Urban Decay, Glossier, Prada, Mielle, and Essie. This girly x sporty crossover is something only the W can pull off, and it’s expected to grow exponentially as the league gains more traction. When your favorite hooper drops a campaign, it’s not an ad — it’s a shopping list.
WNBA Glossier Partnership (Glossier)
9. The Social Media
While we know all the WNBA players are basketball pros, they’re also the best of the best when it comes to social media. You’ll watch your favorite players duke it out on the court and then see a dancing Tiktok from the locker room 10 minutes later. The W’s social media is like getting constant behind-the-scenes content that helps you get to know your favorite players in and out of the game. Who doesn’t want to see a “get ready with me” Tiktok of your favorite player before they drop 25 points?
10. The Growth
If you haven’t noticed, we’re witnessing the absolute explosion of WNBA popularity. Last year, the league saw record-breaking attendance and viewership, and this trend has continued to steadily climb ever since. Little boys are wearing Paige Buecker’s jerseys, sports legends are sitting courtside at W games, and highlights are being casually posted on the most mainstream sports media outlets. If you needed a time to get into the WNBA– it’s now. Don’t wait to follow the crowd; do it now so you can tell everyone that you followed the W before it became THE #1 sports league.