The WNBA Is Giving Teen Fans Hope in Sport — but More Importantly, in Themselves

You don't have to be a fan of the WNBA to have noticed its rise in popularity over the past few years. Game attendance is the highest its been since the 1990s and viewership is up 183 percent from last season, per ESPN. It's remarkable, to say the least. But I didn't realize just how remarkable until I attended a New York Liberty game against the Chicago Sky last month. As I sat alongside fellow fans, I noticed a much younger demographic in the crowd than I'd expected. I saw young girls, tweens, and teens on the edge of their seats, waiting for the players to hit the court. Some proudly donned Sabrina Ionescu jerseys, while others wore bright graphic tees featuring mascot sensation Ellie the Elephant. Some were there just for Angel Reese, rocking replicas of her number 5 jersey and shrieking when they spotted the "Chi-Town Barbie" during warm-ups.

The truth is, the WNBA fan base has one of the largest proportions of young fans among major American sports leagues. Those in the 18-34 age bracket make up 47 percent of WNBA fans and nearly half of WNBA fans are women, according to YouGov research. And the best part? The rise in popularity seems to be encouraging young girls to get into — and stick with — the sport.

At the Boys and Girls Club in Whittier, California, the Mamba League, a basketball club for those ranging from third to eighth grade, has become increasingly popular. "At first, a lot of boys were very interested, but because of the rise of the WNBA, we've been having higher members who are girls to come in and play for us," says Samantha Robles, the teen director for the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier and Pico Rivera. There's also been an influx of requests for girls-only basketball leagues, says Eric Osborne, senior director of sports and e-sports at Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

The kids aren't just playing ball — they're talking about it, too. "It's become so popular," says Kanessa, a member of BGC of the Valley. While she hasn't been able to attend a game in person, she and her friends watch clips and highlights of the players on social media. Kanessa's favorite player: Brittney Griner. The 16-year-old tells PS that it was Griner's captivity in Russia and journey back to the league that brought her attention to the WNBA. Prior to that, she was solely an NBA fan.

"People say, 'Oh, well, girls can't do this,' like they need to stay at home and cook and stuff, and they're not strong enough and stuff," she says. But in watching Griner and tuning in to the W as a whole, she learned the exact opposite. "[The WNBA] empowers women to do stuff like that — that they can do stuff like that. And I think it's really like, cool."

Hailie, a fan of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, echoes a similar sentiment. The senior in high school has been playing basketball her whole life, but she first got into the WNBA during her freshman year. Watching the W become more popular has been inspirational, Hailie tells PS, because it signals "opportunity" to her and her teammates.

"Really, nothing is impossible if you really set your mind to it," Hailie says. This has been her biggest takeaway from watching the players stand by the league and seeing the league evolve.

"To teens, it's given us the opportunity to really see our role models grow and know that we can become them one day if we put our mind to it," she says. In a society where, by age 14, girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys due to social stigma, cost, and a lack of access and role models, establishing a positive notion for what's possible becomes crucial.

As for Hailie's future ambition to play pro-ball, it exists as an option — and that's in part thanks to the WNBA. "I'm open to it," she tells PS. "It's not something I would say no to."

Alexis Jones is the senior health and fitness editor at PS. Her passions and areas of expertise include women's health and fitness, mental health, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.