By almost every statistic imaginable, the WNBA is in the middle of its most historic season to date. The WNBA, founded in 1996 by NBA Commissioner David Stern, has had trouble becoming popular in mainstream sports in the United States and has yet to turn a profit over the course of any of its seasons. However, led by the popular new faces of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, the WNBA has seen a surge in popularity across the country.
Before the season started, the WNBA Draft recorded 2.44 million viewers, which is roughly four times higher than the previous record of 600,000. Fans were more eager to watch Clark and Reese get drafted than in 2004 after Diana Taurasi’s 3-peat with UConn. To put this number into context, the WNBA Draft recorded more viewers than the 2023 NHL (600,000) Draft and 2023 MLB (744,000) Draft combined. On top of that, the WNBA opened with the highest attendance in 26 years and had the most-watched start of the season across every network. Halfway through the season, the WNBA All-Star game garnered 3.4 million viewers, making it the third most-watched women’s basketball game in history.
Considering this recent rise in popularity, we at the Indy Sportsbook think that a review of the WNBA is especially pertinent. While the league is not reaching the viewership of the NBA or NFL yet, it has greatly boosted women’s sports. With the playoffs right around the corner, the Sportsbook is coming at you with bets for the major awards for the 2024 season: MVP, Rookie of the Year (ROTY), and Finals winner.
We could easily gloss over the WNBA MVP race, but it’s only fitting to give kudos to A’Ja Wilson, who currently sits at -3500 odds to win the award. There isn’t really any value in this bet; it has pretty much already been decided upon due to Wilson’s incredible play. Wilson has had one of the most dominant performances in recent WNBA history and has stepped it up another level all season. The first overall pick in the 2018 draft out of South Carolina, Wilson is a force in the paint and has added a decent shot from beyond the arch. She is averaging 27.5/12.4/2.4 on 52.6/33.9/86 (as of Sept. 6) and is the clear-cut favorite.
The race for ROTY is a bit more contentious, with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese emerging as the top contenders. Both fans and analysts are split on who they think should win. Clark, with her electric shooting and ability to stretch the floor, has dazzled in her first WNBA season, seemingly changing the pace of the game league-wide. Averaging 21.6 points per game with 6.2 assists, Clark’s court vision and deep range have made her an instant star. On the other hand, Reese has been a beast on both ends of the floor, pulling down rebounds at an astonishing rate and more than holding her own in the defensive interior. Reese is averaging 17.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, giving her the edge in versatility; however, she has just injured her wrist and will miss the rest of the season. Ultimately, due to Clark’s team success and strong second half of the season, she has emerged as the strong favorite and sits at -2000 odds.
The WNBA Finals are shaping up to be a thrilling matchup, with the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty at the top of the league. The Aces, led by A’Ja Wilson, are dominant on both ends, with Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum adding to one of the league’s most balanced offenses. The Liberty, led by Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, poses a serious challenge with Ionescu’s playmaking and Stewart’s two-way dominance. While the Aces are slight favorites due to their firepower and experience, the Liberty’s depth makes it a close call. We favor the Aces to take it home at +325 odds, simply because the line is a little more attractive.
As the season is just about to wrap up, we at the Indy Sportsbook think it has probably been the most exciting in WNBA history. Exciting rookies, competitive teams at the top, and the league’s growing popularity have set the stage for what should be the best playoffs in the league’s history.
Luke Wagner ’26 (lukewagner@college.harvard.ed) and Santi Kelly ’26 (skelly@college.harvard.edu) believe that the WNBA will continue to gain popularity and become a major sport in the years to come.