Nancy Lieberman has a legendary career in women’s basketball spanning back five decades, but said she’s never seen the level of attention the sport is getting now.
In an appearance on Atlanta News First, Lieberman opened up about the impact that rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have had on the sport and its explosion in popularity.
Lieberman, who currently serves as head coach of Power, a team in the BIG3, said Clark and Reese are lifting up the entire sport beyond just the WNBA.
Related: Legendary Coach Sends Stern Message To WNBA About Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese
The WNBA averaged 1.31 million viewers through June, an increase of more than 300% from the same time last year. The league also noted the explosion in interest, saying they look forward to more attention in the future.
“What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment,” Colie Edison, the WNBA’s chief growth officer, told ESPN in June. “We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum.”