The NBA and WNBA are in the midst of a talent boom thanks to the influx of young talent joining their existing stars. Rising NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and rising WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever represent their respective leagues' future faces, which could be huge.
The NBA has managed to increase its popularity over the last 20 years thanks to the drastic rise in international stars who have brought tens of millions of new fans to the game. Wembanyama's arrival gives them a new superstar that they can market and he is unlike anything that people have seen before.
His skill set is more in line with a big wing like Kevin Durant but he is one of the tallest players in league history. His highlights often go viral on X (formerly Twitter) and he has helped to bring attention to the Spurs, who already have a large international fan base that extends to countries such as France and Mexico.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has just pointed to San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama as an example of the success of the league’s efforts to make every market, big or small, a competitive participant in the league. #NBA #PorVida pic.twitter.com/fboODU2nrS
— SpursRΞPORT (@SpursReporter) September 10, 2024
Wembanyama is French, of course, and he could help the NBA make further inroads in France and Europe. Especially with Wembanyama having a larger-than-life personality, which should make him all the more marketable.
NBA star Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and WNBA star Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever could be superstars.
Clark may not have the charisma of Wembanyama but she has a chance to be far more impactful on the WNBA than he is on the NBA. The NBA will generate nearly $7 billion once the new TV contract kicks in, with him having little to do with that deal.
He could push that higher but the NBA's new TV contract won't expire for at least 10 years so it would take a while. Meanwhile, the WNBA is generating just $200 million annually and Clark has already had a big impact. Both ratings and attendance are up, and the WNBA is receiving increased interest, even resulting in the All-Star Game being shown in prime time on ABC. It is even getting its only daily show on ESPN after WNBA games were previously relegated to ESPN2.
Even opposite the NFL, Caitlin Clark and the Fever generated yet another seven-figure audience Friday night: https://t.co/HCgv4LryI2
— Sports Media Watch (@paulsen_smw) September 9, 2024
The WNBA has often failed to generate much interest, even as the popularity of women's college basketball has exploded but the popularity of Clark and, to a lesser extent, Angel Reese has begun to bring those fans in. Even NBA fans are beginning to watch WNBA games, especially with their favorite players often appearing courtside to support their counterparts.
With Clark and Wembanyama both bringing significant interest to their respective leagues and, more importantly, exceeding their already sky-high expectations, both leagues could see their popularity surge. Given the increasing longevity of basketball players, both leagues may have found the future face of the NBA and WNBA for the next 15 years.