WNBA legend Sue Bird recently spoke out on the league’s growth after being questioned about the influence of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.
Bird believes the rise in viewership and popularity has come with time since the league has developed each and every year on and off the court, but she also believes players have evolved.
A player’s brand off the court, where women like Reese and Clark show their personality, is important to the WNBA fanbase, according to Bird.
“Sometimes it’s just timing,” Bird said. “I think there is a part of it where we have some players now across the board that have personality, they’re showcasing it. I do think younger generations, they push the envelope a little bit.”
Bird mentioned in the interview with CBS that the younger generation has helped bring life to the league, but she explained that didn’t have those opportunities when she was a rookie.
She believes society has played a large role in the WNBA’s growth since players seem to have more freedom in how they express themselves. With that case comes Bird’s message of crediting Clark and Reese to an extent, explaining that they’re in the right place at the right time.
“I know when I was coming out of college into the pro life, it was a little bit of ‘shut up and dribble,’ it was a little bit for women, ‘be thankful you even have a job, don’t rock the boat too much.’”
Team WNBA forward Angel Reese (5) passes the ball to Team WNBA guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the first half against the USA Women’s National Team at Footprint Center.
© Mark J. Rebilas–USA TODAY Sports
While the league has been developing for years, Clark and Reese helped bring a major boost that the WNBA has been lacking since the league was first established.
Clark and Reese were each stars at the collegiate level, with the Fever guard leaving the Iowa Hawkeyes as the NCAA’s all-time leading score (3,951 points) and the Sky forward helping secure a National Title for the LSU Tigers in 2023.
They came into the league with previous stardom, and both of them had strong voices on and off the hardwood.
Reese currently has over nine million combined followers on Instagram, TikTok, and X, while Clark has over three million followers on her socials.
Both players are currently fighting for the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award, and their countless fans have been vocal about the debate.
Clark is currently averaging 17.1 points and 8.2 assists per game for Indiana, while Reese is posting 13.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.
They’ve been putting on a show for the WNBA, helping lift the brand with their influence on and off the court.
Both players were a part of the most-watched WNBA game across all networks in 23 years. During the Sky’s 88-87 victory over Indiana on June 23, they attracted 2.3 million viewers.
Bird may believe that timing has played a major role in the league’s rise, but the talented rookie class has also been at the forefront of change.
