Barclays, New York Liberty jersey patch deal a sign of WNBA popularity

Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty participates in the three-point challenge during the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Feb. 17, 2024. Stacy Revere | Getty Images Barclays is the latest big corporation to align itself with the Women’s National Basketball Association, signing a multiyear deal with … Read more

Caitlin Clark will be ‘backbone of a franchise’: Anonymous WNBA GMs scout guard prospects

Caitlin Clark will headline the 2024 WNBA Draft, but she is far from the only impact guard who will make her way into the league. As the professional game modernizes, franchises are looking for more playmakers on the perimeter in an effort to improve the pace and spacing of their offenses. Clark is the most … Read more

Media Buyer GroupM Sets Plan To Double Investments In Women’s Sports

GroupM, the media buying arm of advertising giant WPP, is planning to double its annual investment in women’s sports and create a dedicated marketplace to facilitate deals. The company said the initiative will begin in the 2024-25 upfront, with an initial roster of advertisers including Adidas, Google, Ally and Unilever to be supplemented with more … Read more

The Caitlin Clark business is booming. Here’s how her WNBA sponsorships are lining up

Last fall, representatives from Gainbridge, an Indiana-based annuities seller, reached out to Caitlin Clark’s marketing agents at Excel Sports Management to discuss a sponsorship deal. The company was launching a new product line and its executives believed Clark could help them reach younger customers. Minji Ro, Gainbridge’s chief strategy officer, is also a longtime WNBA … Read more

Caitlin Clark declares for 2024 WNBA Draft ahead of final postseason run with Iowa

Having rewritten the collegiate record book over four seasons at Iowa, Caitlin Clark announced Thursday that she is entering the upcoming WNBA Draft and forgoing the opportunity to return to the Hawkeyes for a fifth year. Clark’s decision, which comes just days before Iowa’s final regular-season home game Sunday against No. 2 Ohio State, had … Read more

Granny style: Can an 84-year-old make the WNBA? She’s got their attention

Shirley Simson, an 84-year-old mother of four, grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of 10, stood inside the lobby of Las Vegas’ Bellagio Hotel & Casino on an early January afternoon waiting for her ride. She wore bright pink athletic shorts with the phrase “SPORT DRIP” printed all over, a white single-leg sleeve running down her … Read more

Sue Bird: Caitlin Clark can be a WNBA All-Star as a rookie, would encourage Iowa star to go pro

Caitlin Clark’s transcendent play, from her logo 3-point shooting to her unique skills as a “get ahead” passer, has captivated basketball fans from Maine to California. A question that often arises is how will her game translate to the next level. In a wide-ranging 60-minute interview that will air in full Thursday on the “Sports … Read more

Sheryl Swoopes addresses controversial Caitlin Clark comments: ‘I made a mistake’

Sheryl Swoopes said that she has spoken to Iowa guard Caitlin Clark to address her controversial comments on Clark’s record-breaking season. “A couple of weeks ago, I reached out to (LSU’s Angel Reese) and had a really good conversation with Angel over the phone and sent a message to Caitlin. She responded. She and I … Read more

Brittney Griner makes long-awaited return to Baylor

WACO, Texas — At halftime of Baylor’s game against Texas Tech on Sunday, fans took part in a dunk contest. In the final round, one contestant asked Brittney Griner to pass him the ball off the backboard, which she immediately agreed to without any practice reps. Her first attempt missed the contestant altogether. Her second … Read more

Kenny Smith’s Sabrina Ionescu comments spoiled an otherwise great 3-point contest moment

The simple problem with Kenny Smith’s comments on TNT during the best moment of All-Star Saturday was they didn’t make any sense. What Smith said as the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry edged out the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu in a made-for-great-TV 3-point contest was distracting because of its lack of logic and timing. … Read more