2024 WNBA season | |
---|---|
League | Women's National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Duration | May 14 – September 19, 2024 |
Number of games | 40 per team |
Number of teams | 12 |
Total attendance | 2,353,735 |
Average attendance | 9,807 |
TV partner(s) | ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 Ion CBS/CBSSN Amazon Prime Video NBA TV |
Draft | |
Top draft pick | Caitlin Clark |
Picked by | Indiana Fever |
Regular season | |
Season MVP | A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas) |
Playoffs | |
Finals champions | New York Liberty (1st title) |
Runners-up | Minnesota Lynx |
Finals MVP | Jonquel Jones (New York) |
The 2024 WNBA season was the 28th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), a professional women's basketball league based in the United States.
The regular season ran from May 14 to September 19, with each of the 12 teams playing 40 games—four games each against the other five teams from the same conference, four games each against two teams from the other conference, and three games each against the remaining four teams in the other conference. [1] Five regular season games in early June were played against teams in the same conference to determine qualification for the WNBA Commissioner's Cup, an in-season tournament first played in 2021; the final will be hosted by the team with the better win–loss record in qualifying games. [2] The 2024 season includes a month-long break for the Summer Olympic Games, beginning after the annual WNBA All-Star Game on July 20 in Phoenix, Arizona. [3] [4]
The eight teams with the best regular season records, regardless of conference, qualify for the WNBA Playoffs to determine the league's champion in the 2024 WNBA Finals. Since 2022, the playoffs have featured a best-of-three series in the first round, where teams are seeded based on regular season performance, and a best-of-five format for the semifinals and WNBA Finals. [5] The Las Vegas Aces were the defending champions, having won the 2023 WNBA Finals to retain their title in back-to-back seasons. [6] However, they lost to the New York Liberty in four games in the Semifinals, thus marked the end of the Aces' two year championship run. During the WNBA Finals, the New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in five games to win their first championship in franchise history.
The season saw a significant increase of attendance and television viewership across the league following the entry of Caitlin Clark into the league. With there being a 48% jump in attendance and compared to the 2023 season and a record 22 regular season games attracting over 1 million viewers. [7] [8]
The 2024 WNBA draft was held on April 15, 2024. The Indiana Fever won the first pick in the weighted draft lottery, held between the four teams that did not qualify for the 2023 WNBA Playoffs. It is the second consecutive year that Indiana has won the first pick in the draft. [9] The remaining lottery picks went to the Los Angeles Sparks in second, Phoenix Mercury in third, and Seattle Storm in fourth; the remaining picks are based on the regular season record of teams who qualified for the playoffs, from worst to best. [10]
Pick | Player | Nationality | Team | School / club team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Caitlin Clark | United States | Indiana Fever | Iowa |
2 | Cameron Brink | United States | Los Angeles Sparks | Stanford |
3 | Kamilla Cardoso | Brazil | Chicago Sky (from Phoenix) | South Carolina |
4 | Rickea Jackson | United States | Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle) | Tennessee |
The free agency negotiation period began on January 21, 2024, and teams were able to officially sign players starting February 1. [16]
Off-season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | 2023 season | 2024 season | Reference |
Chicago Sky | Emre Vatansever | Teresa Weatherspoon | [17] [18] |
Phoenix Mercury | Nikki Blue | Nate Tibbetts | [19] |
Team USA 109, Team WNBA117 | ||
Scoring by quarter: 23–24, 31–28, 25–36, 30–29 | ||
Pts: Breanna Stewart 31 Rebs: Breanna Stewart 10 Asts: Kelsey Plum 6 | Pts: Arike Ogunbowale 34 Rebs: Angel Reese 11 Asts: Caitlin Clark 10 |
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | yx – New York Liberty | 32 | 8 | .800 | — | 16–4 | 16–4 | 16–4 | 5–0 |
2 | cx – Minnesota Lynx | 30 | 10 | .750 | 2 | 14–6 | 16–4 | 14–6 | 4–1 |
3 | x – Connecticut Sun | 28 | 12 | .700 | 4 | 14–6 | 14–6 | 14–6 | 4–1 |
4 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 27 | 13 | .675 | 5 | 12–8 | 13–7 | 14–6 | 2–3 |
5 | x – Seattle Storm | 25 | 15 | .625 | 7 | 13–7 | 14–6 | 11–9 | 4–1 |
6 | x – Indiana Fever | 20 | 20 | .500 | 12 | 11–9 | 12–8 | 8–12 | 3–2 |
7 | x – Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 21 | .475 | 13 | 10–10 | 10–10 | 9–11 | 3–2 |
8 | x – Atlanta Dream | 15 | 25 | .375 | 17 | 7–13 | 8–12 | 7–13 | 1–4 |
9 | e – Washington Mystics | 14 | 26 | .350 | 18 | 7–13 | 5–15 | 9–11 | 1–4 |
10 | e – Chicago Sky | 13 | 27 | .325 | 19 | 5–15 | 6–14 | 7–13 | 1–4 |
11 | e – Dallas Wings | 9 | 31 | .225 | 23 | 6–14 | 7–13 | 2–18 | 0–5 |
12 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 8 | 32 | .200 | 24 | 5–15 | 5–15 | 3–17 | 2–3 |
Notes
Note: Games highlighted in ██ represent Commissioner's Cup games.
All times Eastern
The following shows the leaders in each statistical category during the 2024 regular season. [20] [21] [22]
‡ | New WNBA record |
Category | Player | Team | Statistic |
---|---|---|---|
Points per game | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces | 26.9 ppg ‡ |
Rebounds per game | Angel Reese | Chicago Sky | 13.1 rpg ‡ |
Assists per game | Caitlin Clark | Indiana Fever | 8.4 apg |
Steals per game | Arike Ogunbowale | Dallas Wings | 2.1 spg |
Blocks per game | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces | 2.6 bpg |
Field goal percentage | Brittney Griner | Phoenix Mercury | 57.9% |
Three point FG percentage | Emily Engstler | Washington Mystics | 47.4% |
Free throw percentage | Arike Ogunbowale | Dallas Wings | 92.1% |
Points per game (team) | Las Vegas Aces | 86.4 ppg | |
Field goal percentage (team) | Indiana Fever | 45.6% |
Through the end of the regular season
Round One: Best-of-3 | Semifinals: Best-of-5 | Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
1 | New York Liberty | 2 | ||||||||||||
8 | Atlanta Dream | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
4 | Las Vegas Aces | 1 | ||||||||||||
4 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
5 | Seattle Storm | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
2 | Minnesota Lynx | 2 | ||||||||||||
2 | Minnesota Lynx | 2 | ||||||||||||
7 | Phoenix Mercury | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | Minnesota Lynx | 3 | ||||||||||||
3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
6 | Indiana Fever | 0 |
Bold: series winner
Date Awarded | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Player | Team | ||
May 21 | Alyssa Thomas | Connecticut | Napheesa Collier | Minnesota | [23] [24] |
May 28 | DeWanna Bonner | Kahleah Copper | Phoenix | [25] [26] | |
June 4 | Sabrina Ionescu | New York | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas | [27] [28] |
June 11 | Breanna Stewart | Dearica Hamby | Los Angeles | [29] [30] | |
June 18 | Aliyah Boston | Indiana | Brittney Griner | Phoenix | [31] [32] |
June 25 | Sabrina Ionescu (2) | New York | A'ja Wilson (2) | Las Vegas | [33] [34] |
July 9 | Angel Reese | Chicago | A'ja Wilson (3) | [35] | |
July 18 | Sabrina Ionescu (3) | New York | A'ja Wilson (4) | [36] | |
August 27 | Caitlin Clark | Indiana | Napheesa Collier (2) | Minnesota | [37] [38] |
September 3 | Caitlin Clark (2) | A'ja Wilson (5) | Las Vegas | [39] [40] | |
September 10 | Caitlin Clark (3) | Napheesa Collier (3) | Minnesota | [41] [42] | |
September 20 | Breanna Stewart (2) | New York | A'ja Wilson (6) | Las Vegas | [43] [44] |
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Player | Team | ||
May | Alyssa Thomas | Connecticut | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas | [45] [46] |
June | Sabrina Ionescu | New York | A'ja Wilson (2) | [47] | |
July | Sabrina Ionescu (2) | A'ja Wilson (3) | [48] [49] | ||
August | Caitlin Clark [a] | Indiana | Napheesa Collier | Minnesota | [51] [52] |
September | Breanna Stewart | New York | A'ja Wilson (4) | Las Vegas | [43] [53] |
Month | Player | Team | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
May | Caitlin Clark | Indiana | [54] |
June | Angel Reese | Chicago | [47] |
July | Caitlin Clark (2) | Indiana | [55] |
August | Caitlin Clark (3) | [51] | |
September | Caitlin Clark (4) | [56] |
Month | Player | Team | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
May | Stephanie White | Connecticut | [45] |
June | Cheryl Reeve | Minnesota | [57] |
July | Sandy Brondello | New York | [48] |
August | Christie Sides | Indiana | [58] |
September | Becky Hammon | Las Vegas | [59] |
Award | Winner | Position | Team | Votes/Statistic |
---|---|---|---|---|
Most Valuable Player Award | A'ja Wilson | Forward | Las Vegas | 67 out of 67 [60] |
Finals MVP Award | Jonquel Jones | Forward/Guard | New York | [61] |
Rookie of the Year Award | Caitlin Clark | Guard | Indiana | 66 out of 67 [62] |
Most Improved Player Award | DiJonai Carrington | Guard | Connecticut | 28 out of 67 [63] |
Defensive Player of the Year Award | Napheesa Collier | Forward | Minnesota | 36 out of 67 [64] |
Sixth Player of the Year Award | Tiffany Hayes | Guard | Las Vegas | 38 out of 67 [65] |
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award | Dearica Hamby | Forward | Los Angeles | 12 out of 67 [66] |
Peak Performer: Points | A'ja Wilson | Forward | Las Vegas | 26.9 ppg [67] |
Peak Performer: Rebounds | Angel Reese | Forward | Chicago | 13.1 rpg [67] |
Peak Performer: Assists | Caitlin Clark | Guard | Indiana | 8.4 apg [67] |
Coach of the Year Award | Cheryl Reeve | Coach | Minnesota | 62 out of 67 [64] |
Basketball Executive of the Year Award | President of Basketball Operations | [64] |
Team | Members | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
All-WNBA First Team [68] | Napheesa Collier | A'ja Wilson | Breanna Stewart | Caitlin Clark | Alyssa Thomas |
All-WNBA Second Team [68] | Sabrina Ionescu | Kahleah Copper | Nneka Ogwumike | Arike Ogunbowale | Jonquel Jones |
All-Defensive First Team [69] | Napheesa Collier | A'ja Wilson | Ezi Magbegor | DiJonai Carrington | Breanna Stewart |
All-Defensive Second Team [69] | Alyssa Thomas | Alanna Smith | Nneka Ogwumike | Jonquel Jones | Natasha Cloud |
All-Rookie Team [70] | Caitlin Clark | Rickea Jackson | Angel Reese | Kamilla Cardoso | Leonie Fiebich |
Team | Head coach | Previous job | Years with team | Record with team | Playoff Appearances | Finals Appearances | WNBA Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta Dream | Tanisha Wright | Las Vegas Aces (assistant) | 2 | 33–34 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Chicago Sky | Teresa Weatherspoon | New Orleans Pelicans (assistant) | 0 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Connecticut Sun | Stephanie White | Vanderbilt | 1 | 27–13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Indiana Fever | Christie Sides | Atlanta Dream (assistant) | 1 | 13–27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New York Liberty | Sandy Brondello | Phoenix Mercury | 2 | 48–28 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Washington Mystics | Eric Thibault | Washington Mystics (associate head coach) | 1 | 19–21 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Team | Head coach | Previous job | Years with team | Record with team | Playoff Appearances | Finals Appearances | WNBA Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dallas Wings | Latricia Trammell | Los Angeles Sparks (assistant) | 1 | 22–18 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Las Vegas Aces | Becky Hammon | San Antonio Spurs (assistant) | 2 | 60–16 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Los Angeles Sparks | Curt Miller | Connecticut Sun | 1 | 17–23 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Minnesota Lynx | Cheryl Reeve | Detroit Shock (assistant) | 14 | 300–170 | 12 | 6 | 4 |
Phoenix Mercury | Nate Tibbetts | Orlando Magic (assistant) | 0 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Seattle Storm | Noelle Quinn | Seattle Storm (associate head coach) | 3 | 49–53 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Notes:
This was the eighth year of a nine-year deal with ESPN, [71] the second year of a three-year deal with Ion, [72] and the first year of a two-year deal with CBS Sports and Amazon. [73] [74] Select games also aired on NBA TV through the WNBA and NBA's shared ownership.
During the league's Olympic break, the WNBA announced on July 24, 2024 that a new 11-year media rights extension was made with ESPN/ABC and Prime Video, as well as a new deal with NBC Sports. These new deals, which were announced in conjunction with the NBA's new media rights deal with the three parties, will take effect starting with the 2026 season.
# | Team | Home games | Average attendance [82] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Indiana Fever | 20 | 17,036 |
2 | New York Liberty | 20 | 12,730 |
3 | Las Vegas Aces | 20 | 11,283 |
4 | Seattle Storm | 20 | 11,184 |
5 | Los Angeles Sparks | 20 | 11,045 |
6 | Phoenix Mercury | 20 | 10,715 |
7 | Minnesota Lynx | 20 | 9,292 |
8 | Chicago Sky | 20 | 8,757 |
9 | Connecticut Sun | 20 | 8,451 |
10 | Washington Mystics | 20 | 6,542 |
11 | Dallas Wings | 20 | 5,911 |
12 | Atlanta Dream | 20 | 4,744 |
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