How Women’s Basketball has Paved the Way for Attention in Women’s Sports
If you’ve been following pop culture this past year, you’ve probably heard of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, or Paige Bueckers—two sensational female basketball players who have not only transformed the women’s college basketball scene, but also shifted the narrative around women’s sports as a whole.
March Madness, the annual basketball tournament that captures the nation’s attention, has been generally associated with men’s teams when it comes to viewers and bracket participation. However, this past year, something was different. More people filled out March Madness brackets for the women’s side, jumping from about 2 million people to over 3 million fans (WCCB Charlotte, NCAA). This was arguably primarily due to Clark, Reese, and Bueckers, whose remarkable basketball performances have engrossed television viewers and brought more excitement to women’s college basketball (Awful Announcing).
Clark, Reese, and Bueckers are so popular due to their exceptional talent showcased on the court. Their offensive abilities and ball handling skills catch the eyes of many. The game between Clark and Bueckers, Iowa State vs. UConn had a record of 17 million viewers. (Yahoo Sports). Clark’s incredible shooting accuracy for 3’s, Reese’s strong defense and elite rebounding, and Bueckers’ playmaking abilities make it hard to not watch them. Through social media, their fanbases have extended, and platforms such as Tiktok are filled with edits and highlights of them, resulting in a viewer frenzy over women’s basketball.
This growing interest in women’s basketball doesn’t end at college. It has continued on to the WNBA. Clark, who graduated from the University of Iowa, now plays for the Indiana Fever. LSU’s Reese plays for the Chicago Sky. Just this year, the viewer rates of WNBA by young girls has increased by 135%, thanks to Clark and Reese (Marca). With Bueckers completing her senior year at UConn, next year, she will also most likely join the WNBA and will continue this trend through her debut.
These three basketball sensations are more than just talented players. Moreover, Clark’s recent naming as Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2024 demonstrates the meteoric rise and recognition of females in sports. These women represent powerful role models for young, aspiring female athletes, showing people the representation women’s sports deserve. The transformation they are making in women’s basketball is incredible, and through them, women’s basketball is gaining more respect and media representation. Their success isn’t just a win for basketball, but is also a move in the right direction towards equality and the potential for female athletes to thrive in women’s sports.
Image credit: Clutch Points