In the last few years, women’s basketball and the WNBA have witnessed an upward rise in viewership, game attendance, and overall interest. The massive rise of social media in the 2020s, along with exposure and availability, gave the public a better understanding of the players, and women’s basketball received attention like never before.
For all her greatness, Cheryl Miller was never under the spotlight like some of today’s players — nor did she reap the same benefits. But many argue she was the first female player to grab fans’ attention.
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Miller talked about it during her appearance on the “Come and Talk 2 me” podcast.
“You guys know it’s exposure. So, once that exposure started… In ’84 we kind of went at everybody’s appetite. In the city we were known, we were like the Lakers, we were the Lakers’ baby sisters. We were run-and-gun. We were showtime,” Miller said, reminiscing about her 1990s USC squad. “So, that introduced it, then you had Sheryl Swoopes and then you had the ’96 Olympics. That’s when it really blew up. We had two professional leagues. Once they merged, that’s when things started.”
“We Got Next”
The WNBA was formed in 1997 by the National Basketball Association with the slogan “We Got Next.” It started off as an experiment and hope that women’s basketball would receive a platform in the United States.
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The main task was to show that women’s play can bring interest, fans and, most importantly, revenue. Players like Lisa Leslie, Cynthie Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes were the faces of the league, and the main focus was on them.
Leslie with her dunks, Swoopes with her Nikes and Cooper with her championships made the league interesting. Despite the big enthusiasm, the road wasn’t easy for the WNBA. The media exposure and viewership were small compared to the NBA, and the league constantly had to deal with the fear of survival. Still, the relentlessness from the players and coaches was constantly in front.
With the arrival of Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Candace Parker, the foundation was set. That first period and the players who broke the ice were key — they showed that the league had potential.
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The new generation
With the likes of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers leading the way, the WNBA’s popularity has exploded.
“You know, social media took off. You know with college basketball and that’s where we are at right now. We are going to continue to get better and grow,” Miller added.
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Clark, who is said to be the new face of the league, broke many records while playing for the University of Iowa. Fast forward to today, and she’s breaking records for jersey sales in the WNBA and bringing the league unprecedented attention.
Alongside her, her rival, Reese, is attracting a new base of fans because of her charisma and confidence, while on the other, more experienced side, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have been building the league up for years.
On the NCAA side, the women’s March Madness tournament has more viewership and publicity than some NBA regular season games. With many sponsors and media outlets contributing millions, the games are starting to become available globally.
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Even though the WNBA has not once made a profit, the analysis for the next season is that the league will break even. That wouldn’t be possible without the gradual rise in interest, publicity and exposure.
What was once an experiment is now a serious business model that is rising year after year. The WNBA is no longer surviving; it continues to thrive.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.