2024 WNBA season
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 |
TV partner(s) | ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 Ion CBS/CBSSN Amazon Prime Video NBA TV |
Draft | |
Top draft pick | ![]() |
Picked by | Indiana Fever |
Regular season | |
Season MVP | ![]() |
Playoffs | |
Finals champions | New York Liberty (1st title) |
Runners-up | Minnesota Lynx |
Finals MVP | ![]() |
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.
Contents
2024 WNBA draft
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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.[7] 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.[8]
Lottery picks
Pick | Player | Nationality | Team | School / club team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Caitlin Clark | ![]() |
Indiana Fever | Iowa |
2 | Cameron Brink | ![]() |
Los Angeles Sparks | Stanford |
3 | Kamilla Cardoso | ![]() |
Chicago Sky (from Phoenix) | South Carolina |
4 | Rickea Jackson | ![]() |
Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle) | Tennessee |
Transactions
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Retirement
- On December 13, 2023, Tiffany Hayes announced her retirement after eleven seasons in the WNBA. Hayes made the All-Rookie team in 2012, she was an All-Star in 2017 and was selected to the All-WNBA First Team in 2018. She spent ten of her eleven seasons with the Atlanta Dream.[9] Hayes later signed with the Las Vegas Aces on May 31, 2024.[10]
- On January 17, 2024, Jasmine Thomas announced her retirement after thirteen seasons in the WNBA. Thomas was an All-Star in 2017 and made the All-Defensive team five times, three on the first team and twice on the second team. Thomas spent time with the Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Sun, and Los Angeles Sparks.[11]
- On April 15, 2024, Tianna Hawkins announced her retirement. Her retirement ended a ten year career in which she spent time with the Seattle Storm, Atlanta Dream, and Washington Mystics. She was a part of the 2019 Mystics team that won the WNBA title.[12]
- On April 23, 2024, Epiphanny Prince announced her retirement via Instagram. Prince played for four teams over fourteen years. She was an All-Star in 2011 and 2013, and was named All-WNBA Second Team in 2015. She won a WNBA title while playing with the Seattle Storm.
- On April 28, 2024, Candace Parker announced her retirement. Parker's career spanned sixteen years and three teams. She spent thirteen of those years with the Los Angeles Sparks, who drafted her first overall in 2008. She was a two-time MVP, seven-time All-Star, ten-time All-WNBA selection, and Rookie of the Year. She was the WNBA's rebounding leader three times and assist leader once. She won three WNBA Championships, one with each of the three teams she played with, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Las Vegas.[13]
Free agency
The free agency negotiation period began on January 21, 2024, and teams were able to officially sign players starting February 1.[14]
Coaching changes
Off-season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | 2023 season | 2024 season | Reference |
Chicago Sky | ![]() |
![]() |
[15][16] |
Phoenix Mercury | ![]() |
![]() |
[17] |
Regular season
All-Star Game
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July 20, 2024
8:30 p.m. ET |
Team USA 109, Team WNBA 117 | ||
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 |
Standings
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Atlanta Dream | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
2 | Chicago Sky | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
3 | Connecticut Sun | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
4 | Dallas Wings | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
5 | Indiana Fever | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
6 | Las Vegas Aces | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
7 | Los Angeles Sparks | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
8 | Minnesota Lynx | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
9 | New York Liberty | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
10 | Phoenix Mercury | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
11 | Seattle Storm | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
12 | Washington Mystics | 0 | 0 | .000 | - | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Schedule
Note: Games highlighted in ██ represent Commissioner's Cup games.
All times Eastern
Statistical leaders
The following shows the leaders in each statistical category during the 2024 regular season.[18][19][20]
![]() |
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
Playoffs and Finals
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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
Season award winners
Player of the Week Award
Date Awarded | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Player | Team | ||
May 21 | Alyssa Thomas | Connecticut | Napheesa Collier | Minnesota | [21][22] |
May 28 | DeWanna Bonner | Kahleah Copper | Phoenix | [23][24] | |
June 4 | Sabrina Ionescu | New York | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas | [25][26] |
June 11 | Breanna Stewart | Dearica Hamby | Los Angeles | [27][28] | |
June 18 | Aliyah Boston | Indiana | Brittney Griner | Phoenix | [29][30] |
June 25 | Sabrina Ionescu (2) | New York | A'ja Wilson (2) | Las Vegas | [31][32] |
July 9 | Angel Reese | Chicago | A'ja Wilson (3) | [33] | |
July 18 | Sabrina Ionescu (3) | New York | A'ja Wilson (4) | [34] | |
August 27 | Caitlin Clark | Indiana | Napheesa Collier (2) | Minnesota | [35][36] |
September 3 | Caitlin Clark (2) | A'ja Wilson (5) | Las Vegas | [37][38] | |
September 10 | Caitlin Clark (3) | Napheesa Collier (3) | Minnesota | [39][40] | |
September 20 | Breanna Stewart (2) | New York | A'ja Wilson (6) | Las Vegas | [41][42] |
Player of the Month Award
Month | Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Reference | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Player | Team | ||
May | Alyssa Thomas | Connecticut | A'ja Wilson | Las Vegas | [43][44] |
June | Sabrina Ionescu | New York | A'ja Wilson (2) | [45] | |
July | Sabrina Ionescu (2) | A'ja Wilson (3) | [46][47] | ||
August | Caitlin Clark[lower-alpha 1] | Indiana | Napheesa Collier | Minnesota | [49][50] |
September | Breanna Stewart | New York | A'ja Wilson (4) | Las Vegas | [41][51] |
Rookie of the Month Award
Month | Player | Team | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
May | Caitlin Clark | Indiana | [52] |
June | Angel Reese | Chicago | [45] |
July | Caitlin Clark (2) | Indiana | [53] |
August | Caitlin Clark (3) | [49] | |
September | Caitlin Clark (4) | [54] |
Coach of the Month Award
Month | Player | Team | Reference |
---|---|---|---|
May | Stephanie White | Connecticut | [43] |
June | Cheryl Reeve | Minnesota | [55] |
July | Sandy Brondello | New York | [46] |
August | Christie Sides | Indiana | [56] |
September | Becky Hammon | Las Vegas | [57] |
Postseason awards
Award | Winner | Position | Team | Votes/Statistic |
---|---|---|---|---|
Most Valuable Player Award | A'ja Wilson | Forward | Las Vegas | 67 out of 67[58] |
Finals MVP Award | Jonquel Jones | Forward/Guard | New York | [59] |
Rookie of the Year Award | Caitlin Clark | Guard | Indiana | 66 out of 67[60] |
Most Improved Player Award | DiJonai Carrington | Guard | Connecticut | 28 out of 67[61] |
Defensive Player of the Year Award | Napheesa Collier | Forward | Minnesota | 36 out of 67[62] |
Sixth Player of the Year Award | Tiffany Hayes | Guard | Las Vegas | 38 out of 67[63] |
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award | Dearica Hamby | Forward | Los Angeles | 12 out of 67[64] |
Peak Performer: Points | A'ja Wilson | Forward | Las Vegas | 26.9 ppg[65] |
Peak Performer: Rebounds | Angel Reese | Forward | Chicago | 13.1 rpg[65] |
Peak Performer: Assists | Caitlin Clark | Guard | Indiana | 8.4 apg[65] |
Coach of the Year Award | Cheryl Reeve | Coach | Minnesota | 62 out of 67[62] |
Basketball Executive of the Year Award | President of Basketball Operations | [62] |
Team | Members | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
All-WNBA First Team[66] | Napheesa Collier | A'ja Wilson | Breanna Stewart | Caitlin Clark | Alyssa Thomas |
All-WNBA Second Team[66] | Sabrina Ionescu | Kahleah Copper | Nneka Ogwumike | Arike Ogunbowale | Jonquel Jones |
All-Defensive First Team[67] | Napheesa Collier | A'ja Wilson | Ezi Magbegor | DiJonai Carrington | Breanna Stewart |
All-Defensive Second Team[67] | Alyssa Thomas | Alanna Smith | Nneka Ogwumike | Jonquel Jones | Natasha Cloud |
All-Rookie Team[68] | Caitlin Clark | Rickea Jackson | Angel Reese | Kamilla Cardoso | Leonie Fiebich |
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Coaches
Eastern Conference
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 |
Western Conference
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:
- Year with team does not include 2024 season.
- Records are from time at current team and are through the end of the 2023 regular season.
- Playoff appearances are from time at current team only.
- WNBA Finals and Championships do not include time with other teams.
- Coaches shown are the coaches who began the 2024 season as head coach of each team.
Media coverage
National
This is the eighth year of a nine year deal with ESPN,[69] the second year of a three-year deal with Ion,[70] and the first year of a two-year deal with CBS Sports and Amazon.[71][72] Select games also air on NBA TV through the WNBA and NBA's shared ownership.
- ESPN will air 25 regular season games across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. Additionally, ESPN will air the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge, ABC will air the WNBA All-Star Game, and ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will exclusively air the WNBA playoffs and WNBA Finals.[73]
- Ion Television will air 47 regular season games, exclusively on Friday nights. Select games will be showcased nationally with others only shown to regional audiences. In 2024, Ion will air a weekly WNBA studio show for the first time.[74][75]
- NBA TV will air 40 regular season games.[74]
- Amazon Prime Video will stream 20 regular season games, 18 of which will air on Thursday nights. In addition, it will exclusively air the championship game of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup.[72][74]
- CBS Sports will air 20 regular season games, with eight airing on CBS and 12 airing on CBS Sports Network.[76]
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.
Local
- In February 2024, the Atlanta Dream announced a new agreement with Gray Television to air games locally on WPCH-TV and Peachtree Sports Network.[77]
- In March 2024, the New York Liberty announced a new agreement with Fox Television Stations to air games locally on WNYW or WWOR-TV.[78]
- In April 2024, the Indiana Fever announced a new agreement with Tegna Inc. to air games locally on WTHR or WALV-CD.[79]
References
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Further reading
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