WNBA: Rise of the Minnesota Lynx headline season’s surprises

With the 2024 WNBA season nearing the halfway point, now is as good a time as any to take a look back and reflect on what has surprised us.

Every year is an adventure, and while some things continue to remain same, there have been some changes in the league that I wasn’t prepared for. Here are the ones that stood out the most:

The aftereffects of the Caitlin Clark Effect

We all knew Caitlin Clark’s entry into the WNBA would be a big deal. The No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever has many fans, tremendous talent and is an electrifying player. However, none of us could’ve been prepared for how out of control the circus has been.

Somehow, she’s been viewed as the hero, the villain and the martyr all rolled into one. She’s become a lightning rod for discussion about race, privilege and overall respect for and knowledge about the women who play the sport.

When something goes from indie to mainstream, growing pains always come along with such a transition. However, this one has been particularly ugly to watch. I think it’s telling that Clark doesn’t want to be held responsible for the worst takes about her and has tried to stay out of all the noise. Much of this was predictable, but we’re all surprised by how bad it has been at times, and how the loudest and most ignorant voices have received the most attention.

Even hype is bound by the laws of physics, and things have begun to settle down. Clark is still must-watch TV, but no longer draws front-page news for every loss or hard foul that has happened a million times to a million players before. I’m sure the hype and controversy surrounding her will come up again. It’s probably a small scenario that goes from a molehill to a mountain. But moving forward, I’ll be more prepared for it because these first few months certainly took me by surprise.

The Lynx are back!

Set Number: X164535 TK1

Every season, a team surprises us; that team this year is the Minnesota Lynx.

A sub .500 squad last year, they currently sit tied with the second-best record in the league. Recently, they beat the New York Liberty to become the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup champions.

Napheesa Collier is having a career year, averaging 20.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. With Collier playing at such an elite level, this is no longer just a feel-good story; it’s proof that the Lynx are legit title contenders.

New sponsorships

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

I didn’t expect the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to sponsor a team, presenting all Aces players a $100,000 endorsement deal. And I certainly didn’t expect that to result in a WNBA investigation, but with this league, nothing should surprise you.

A’ja Wilson getting a shoe was a pleasant surprise, with Nike running an interesting campaign by launching a site called ofcourseihaveashoe.com. Wilson also has a new logo that has been met with mixed results from fans, but her new merchandise seems to be selling well.

That, along with private planes and new deals popping up for stars and role players alike, shows that the game is growing in new and interesting ways. So, while there are growing pains with the development of the WNBA, it will, in the end, lead to more money and opportunities for everyone involved.