It’s no secret that stars sell, and that’s exactly what the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark did in their June 15th matchup, which was the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. They’re poised to be the WNBA’s next big rivalry, and while all this attention may feel new, superstar clashes have powered the W and NBA in the past.

The WNBA’s value is skyrocketing, and it’s projected to get up to $240M for its upcoming media rights deal, which will reportedly be negotiated alongside the NBA’s multibillion-dollar deal.

Business is booming through the first month of the WNBA’s 2024 season. On yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It, co-host Ellen Hyslop put its early wins into perspective of how long the league has been here and where it’s headed next. Here are a few key metrics released by the league that prove the W has entered a whole new era.

The Team USA Olympic 5-on-5 women’s basketball roster was announced this weekend, and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark didn’t make the cut. It’s a reality check that despite Clark’s rapid ascent, there’s still levels of the game she’s not quite ready for. And while Clark may have an edge in popularity, this U.S. squad will definitely draw a crowd — and marketing dollars.

Unrivaled — the 3x3 pro women’s hoops league launched by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — rolled out some game-changing announcements yesterday. The league confirmed an oversubscribed seed round of all-star investors, which enables Unrivaled to offer a six-figure salary that will be the highest in pro women’s sports league history.

The GIST: Despite a season marked by unprecedented growth for the WNBA, the Washington Mystics don’t have the same level of big-name recognition that’s helping some other teams sell out their arenas. What they do have, however, is a genius marketing strategy.

The WNBA is in its growth era, including its teams and athletes. However, with growth comes growing pains, like this weekend’s news that the Las Vegas Aces are under investigation by the league after every player on the roster signed a $100K local tourism deal.

Newest WNBA franchise Golden State unveiled its team name — the Valkyries — yesterday, just before the season tipped off last night. As the Bay Area team starts to take shape ahead of its debut next year, here’s everything you need to know about its brand rollout.

Basketball Australia (BA) announced plans Monday to sell a majority stake in Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). The sale of the stake — which could be worth at least $13.2M — would give the women’s pro league the tools to level up its game in a way its current governing structure can’t support.

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson finally has the big-name shoe deal to match her on-court success. Wilson is officially Nike’s latest signature athlete after the brand announced Wilson’s apparel collection on Saturday. The cherry on top? The collection features her signature kick, the A’One.

The rumors are true — the WNBA is coming to Toronto in 2026. On Friday, CBC’s Shireen Ahmed broke the news, with an official announcement expected on May 23rd. Toronto’s selection marks a major turning point for W: international expansion.

The WNBA is looking to leverage all available tools to build interest in the game, and that means taking a winning move out of the men’s sports playbook. ESPN announced yesterday that for the first time ever, the WNBA’s opening night doubleheader will be available on Disney+ in addition to streaming on ESPN2 and ESPN+.