The phrase “I’m Him!” has been popularized by today’s youth in sports putting an emphasis on the inner confidence one has in themselves. In this article, many women within the game of basketball who are “H.E.R.” will be discussed. The 2024 Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament provided some of the greatest moments the sport has ever seen. This tournament edition featured stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins and many more. The WNBA is amid a season that has seen exponential growth in attendance, television ratings and merchandise sales.
Reese and Clark are two names within the new wave of talent that have pushed the game forward in recent years. Their budding rivalry was on full display, dating back to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, where Reese and the LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the national championship game. These two superstars entering the WNBA while carrying the momentum built from college have contributed to the current buzz and increased attention surrounding the professional game.
The first Women’s NCAA Championship took place in 1982 with the tournament featuring only 32 teams compared to a tournament that now features 68 teams. Louisiana Tech University won the inaugural tournament losing just one game the entire season. Lead by hall of fame coach Sonja Hogg, members of the championship team included fellow hall of famers Janice Lawrence and Kim Mulkey—the latter recently winning the 2023 tournament as head coach for LSU. The 1982 championship game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 9,531—thousands of tickets were distributed free of charge to high school students.
1981-1982 Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters basketball team
Fast-forward 42 years to the most recent edition of the Final Four being played in front of two sold out crowds—each reaching nearly 37,000 people at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. According to the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, The Final Four generated 32.9 million for the Greater Cleveland economy. The NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship also drew 18.9 million viewers, eclipsing the NCAA Men’s Championship Game at 14.8 million.
While the young talent is undeniable within women’s basketball, the importance of the women who paved the way cannot be ignored. The WNBA was established in 1997 and put an emphasis on leading social justice movements while inspiring generations of young individuals. Stars like Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Miller and Teresa Weatherspoon played a significant role during the league’s inception. Former University of North Texas star forward Angel Hale vividly remembers this time and echoed a sentiment of the league being long overdue.
“I felt like it was about time. Honestly, some of the sports fans are late to the party. The party has been going on, we been playing, we been hooping. Now it’s oh yeah, the girls can play,” Angel Hale stated.
As a member of the Mean Green basketball squad from 1999-2003, Angel Hale appreciates the growth women’s basketball has seen over the years. Her freshman season experience involves playing in front of crowds of 10 people—mostly being parents. She also cites that as the program saw success against top 25 ranked teams, fan engagement and participation increased.
With success also comes excitement as fans around the world were fired up more than ever to see the United States Women’s Olympic Team bring home gold. Witnessing a rare collection of talent featuring two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart, 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, and reigning three-time Most Valuable Player A’ja Wilson perform on the world’s biggest sporting stage added fuel to a growing fire. This proverbial fire is one that will continue to spark the inspiration of young women and girls to pursue their hoop dreams.
“I feel like [women’s basketball] is in a good place, we’re finally getting the eyes that we need. They are able to get paid a little bit more money. It’s moving in the right direction, I just hate that every city doesn’t have a team,” Angel Hale said.
The WNBA has begun its efforts of expansion with The Golden State Valkyries being added as the league’s 13th team, and expected to play their first game in May 2025. San Francisco is not the only city getting a WNBA team as the league will be expanding internationally. A team will be coming to Toronto in 2026 becoming the league’s 14th team. Portland will also be getting a new WNBA team in 2026 as the league’s 15th team and third expansion team in the next two years. More teams will be added to the league with 12 to 15 cities making a legitimate bid for the next expansion franchise. The pool of prospective cities includes Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Austin, Kansas City, Miami, Nashville, Charlotte, Denver and potentially Cleveland. Viewership data supports the growth of women’s basketball and its expansion domestically, as well as internationally.
The interest in women’s basketball has seen a steady rise over the years—2020 serving as an outlier due to COVID-19.
Cailan Hale is currently a sophomore wing at Wiley University embarking upon her journey to carry out her hoop dreams. Cailan displays a well-rounded game and possesses a high basketball IQ. She talked about how the new generation of players like Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson, and others have brought excitement and inspiration to women’s basketball.
“Their skill, confidence, and personalities both on and off the court have really set a new standard. These players have shown that they’re not just athletes. They’re also strong, multifaceted individuals who embrace their unique identities,” Cailan Hale said passionately.
Cailan Hale also appreciates the media attention and viewership women’s basketball is currently receiving. She describes how with increased media attention and support, the WNBA is expanding and players are beginning to receive the credit they are due. The increased attention can also be attributed to the game being more dynamic and competitive on both the collegiate and professional level.
“Right now women’s basketball is in such an exciting place. Fans are showing more interest in the backstories of players and the talent is better at the collegiate level, the game’s future is in good hands,” Cailan Hale asserted.
The current state of women’s basketball is also in good hands as the 2024 playoffs are underway and crowds are continuing to sellout arenas. The New York Liberty play their games at Barclays Center and recently defeated the Atlanta Dream in their first round matchup. The atmosphere in building was filled with electricity and unwavering belief the entire game.
First Round Game 2: New York Liberty vs Atlanta Dream, Photo taken by Jamal Baker
New York Liberty home crowd, Photo taken by Jamal Baker
The era of women’s basketball receiving the proper recognition and appreciation has arrived. The next step involves addressing the wage gap between women’s and men’s basketball. This gap will continue to close as many women hoopers continue to push the game forward and are H.E.R. Heroes for the next generation, exceptional talents that cannot be stopped, and rare human beings people love.
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