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2024 WNBA season

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2024 WNBA season
Year2024
LeagueWNBA
SportBasketball
DurationMay 14 – October 20
TvABC, ESPN, CBS, ION Television, Prime Video
SeasonRegular season
PlayoffsPlayoffs
FinalsWNBA Finals
Seasons2023 – 2024 – 2025

2024 WNBA season is the 28th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The campaign commenced on May 14 and featured a historic level of attention driven by a highly touted rookie class, expansion, and increased media coverage. The regular season concluded on September 19, followed by a revamped playoff format leading to the WNBA Finals in October.

Overview

The 2024 season was marked by the highly anticipated debut of Caitlin Clark, the number one overall pick by the Indiana Fever, alongside other standout rookies like Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky and Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks. The league welcomed its 13th franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, based in San Francisco, bringing professional women's basketball back to the San Francisco Bay Area. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert oversaw continued growth in television partnerships, with games broadcast on ABC, ESPN, CBS, ION Television, and Prime Video, while attendance and merchandise sales saw significant increases league-wide.

Teams and standings

The 13 teams were divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference comprised the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, and Washington Mystics. The Western Conference included the Dallas Wings, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, and Seattle Storm. The regular season standings determined seeding for the WNBA playoffs, with the top eight teams overall qualifying regardless of conference affiliation, a format continued from the 2023 WNBA season.

Regular season

The 40-game regular season schedule featured the new Commissioner's Cup tournament games interwoven from May through July, culminating in a final between the top teams from each conference. Key storylines included the Las Vegas Aces pursuing a third consecutive championship, the superteam New York Liberty seeking their first title, and the rapid development of young stars like A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. The season saw record-breaking television ratings for matchups featuring the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, largely attributed to the collegiate rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese transitioning to the professional level.

Playoffs

The 2024 playoffs began on September 22, utilizing a best-of-three series format for the first two rounds and a best-of-five format for the WNBA semifinals and the WNBA Finals. The Las Vegas Aces, led by Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum, entered as the top seed, while the New York Liberty, powered by Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, were a formidable challenger. The postseason bracket was highlighted by several upsets and the deep run of the Minnesota Lynx, coached by Cheryl Reeve. The championship series concluded on October 20, crowning a new champion after a competitive finals matchup.

Statistical leaders

The race for the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award was fiercely contested, with A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty posting dominant numbers. Caitlin Clark led the league in assists and was among the leaders in points per game, while Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun again topped the charts in rebounds and triple-doubles. Other notable statistical leaders included Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm in scoring, Natasha Cloud of the Phoenix Mercury in steals, and Brittney Griner in blocks for the Phoenix Mercury.

Awards and honors

Following the season, the league distributed its annual awards, with the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award going to a perennial All-Star. The WNBA Rookie of the Year Award was a closely watched race between Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink. The WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award honored an elite defender, while the WNBA Most Improved Player Award recognized a breakout performance. The WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award and WNBA Coach of the Year Award celebrated key contributors from successful teams, and selections were made for the All-WNBA Team and the WNBA All-Defensive Team.

Category:WNBA seasons Category:2024 in women's basketball