The video captures a transformative moment for the WNBA, drawing a parallel to pivotal times in NBA history, such as when prominent players Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan first rose to fame. This year's WNBA rookie class has greatly impacted the league, increasing TV ratings by 153% before the playoffs and boosting attendance. This success has marked a substantial period of growth, helped by rising stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who have become pivotal reasons for the fans' attention and league expansion.

In discussing the evolution of the league, several narratives unfold, including personal anecdotes from rookies and veterans, the effect of heightened competition, and the rising presence of corporate sponsors and media deals. Unique aspects such as players' experiences with packed crowds and the significant shift from basic to five-star accommodations are explored. Additionally, the video highlights the increasing relevance of social media in fostering player-fan interactions and presents a bright future for the league reinforced by expanded media coverage and viewership.

Main takeaways from the video:

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Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. seamless [ˈsiːmləs] - (adjective) - Smooth and without interruptions or difficulties. - Synonyms: (smooth, uninterrupted, flawless)

A rookie class as good as advertised has made a seamless transition from college to the pros, blending with established stars.

2. prominent [ˈprɒmɪnənt] - (adjective) - Important and well-known. - Synonyms: (notable, distinguished, eminent)

This 27 year old league has become a prominent player in the modern sportscape.

3. vitriol [ˈvɪtrɪˌɒl] - (noun) - Cruel and bitter criticism. - Synonyms: (acrimony, bitterness, rancor)

This season saw an onslaught of vitriol, often racists, targeting players.

4. imposter syndrome [ɪmˈpɒstər ˈsɪnˌdroʊm] - (noun) - A psychological pattern where an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud." - Synonyms: (self-doubt, insecurity, inadequacy)

A lot of imposter syndrome. Not a lot.

5. purist [ˈpjʊrɪst] - (noun) - A person who insists on absolute adherence to traditional rules or structures. - Synonyms: (traditionalist, perfectionist, classicist)

This is the league of choice for the basketball purist.

6. fixture [ˈfɪkstʃər] - (noun) - Something that is established or a regular feature or element. - Synonyms: (establishment, staple, constant)

The arrival walk to the locker room is now a fixture in pro sports.

7. earmark [ˈɪərˌmɑrk] - (noun) - A characteristic or identifying feature. - Synonyms: (trait, hallmark, feature)

A happier earmark of growth.

8. aspiration [ˌæspəˈreɪʃən] - (noun) - A hope or ambition of achieving something. - Synonyms: (ambition, goal, dream)

But amid the instability, the WNBA was giving a generation of girls aspiration and inspiration.

9. compelling [kəmˈpɛlɪŋ] - (adjective) - Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way. - Synonyms: (enticing, captivating, enthralling)

In sports, people watch for compelling content and rivalries.

10. phenomenon [fəˈnɑmənən] - (noun) - An observable fact or event considered extraordinary or remarkable. - Synonyms: (marvel, sensation, wonder)

The Caitlin Clark phenomenon, how do you describe it?

Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier on WNBAs success in watershed season | 60 Minutes

In June of 1984, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson met in the NBA Finals for the first time. The following week, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Elijahwon and Charles Barkley were drafted, and the league would never be the same. 40 years later, the WNBA arrives at a similar hinge point. A rookie class as good as advertised has made a seamless transition from college to the pros, blending with established stars.

Sports have a knack for bending stats to fit desired narratives, but the W's growth figures astound. Tv ratings have spiked 153% from last season, and that's before the playoffs, which began last week. Gradually, then suddenly, this 27 year old league has become a prominent player in the modern sportscape.

The story will continue in a moment. Never mind her slick drives in traffic. The deadeye passes that's an absolute dime. The three pointers like this finds Clark from the logo. Hello. Hey, how are you? John. Caitlin, nice to meet you. Good to see you.

A few weeks ago in Indianapolis, we asked Caitlin Clarke, ask me the hard hitting questions to pinpoint the signature moment of this signature season. And, well, we didn't see this coming, but neither did she, probably. I remember we were in New York, and John Paul Jones had a good screen on me, and I actually popped my eardrum. Ruptured my eardrum. Just on a screen, your eardrum? Yeah. It was actually. It was a really good screen by JJ. She's a tremendous player, but I think that just kind of speaks to the physicality of the league. It's just she kind of got me in the right spot. You smiled when you told that story. Good, clean basketball play. It's a good story.

I think it's something that I always remember, like coming into this league. Triple doubles, those are all well and good, but it's the eardrum rupture that's probably more memorable, honestly. Then again, maybe it's fitting, as this is the season the WNBA lowered its shoulder, made its presence felt, and expanded its reach.

These fans came to central Indiana from Newfoundland, Canada. And you're here why? Just to see the Beaver game? Caitlin Clark. Clark, 22 in number and in age, just led the fever to the playoffs. She's unquestionably the league's main attraction, but not the only one. Another rookie Angel Reese, made her mark two. She is the best offensive rebounder in the league. But the real breakthrough star of this WNBA season is the w itself, building off a college season in which unimaginable, just a few years ago, the women's championship game outdrew the men's w games. Can draw more eyeballs than NBA games do.

Leaguewide attendance is up 48% in Minnesota. Nafeesa Collier is this season's defensive player of the year. Target practice. She just dropped 80 points in the first two playoff games. Collier was drafted in 2019 in bridges, two eras of the WNBA. We asked her about the difference this year. Home and away. You look into the crowds. What are you seeing? People, which is what we want. It makes the game so, so fun. It's like you're six, man when you're at home, and then when you're away, you just can't wait to silence the crowd. And that's like the best feeling ever.

You figured out a way to benefit from a full crowd, even when it's rooting against you. Yeah, it's almost more fun when you're, like, in a packed arena with the other team and you hit, like a big three or a big block or something, and you hear them all go, oh, that's. I love that feeling. Collier defending on Jones. That's every bit as motivating.

It really is silencing crowds, not an issue. When the WNBA debuted in 1997, eight teams paired with eight existing NBA teams from the jump franchises came and went. The Houston Comets won the first four titles, only to fold. But amid the instability, the WNBA was giving a generation of girls aspiration and inspiration. When Clark was growing up in Iowa, already running circles around the boys, her dad took her to see a WNBA game in Minnesota. She returned home hellbent on adding distance to her jump shop.

I'm, like, begging my dad to tear up some grass and pour more concrete so I could have an entire three point line in my driveway. Did that really happen? You extended your range by dumping more concrete? Yeah. Cause it was, like, kind of slanted. Our driveway was slanted, so I only had a three point line on one side of the driveway. Told my dad he had to tear up all this grass, and he did.

Likewise. Her fever teammate, six foot five center Leah Boston, last season's rookie of the year, had grand ambitions. So when I first picked up a basketball, at first I was like, I want to go to college. And that was really my goal until probably about sophomore year. I was like, yeah, everything I do is for the number one pick. I love it. So making the WNBA, that became, like, a secondary goal at some point, you wanted to be the number one pick? I wanted to be the number one pick. She was. Then this spring came Clark, Reese, Cameron Brink, and the 2024 vintage.

Did you have the level of confidence that this draft class seems to. I don't think anybody has the level of confidence this draft class does. I think that's what's so amazing about them, actually, is they don't act like rookies. It feels like nothing gets them down. And I think that's amazing. A lot of imposter syndrome. Not a lot. No new confidence. Old school hoops.

This is the league of choice for the basketball purist. All passing and precision. Stuart to Jones. Vandersloot had some time. Obviously, the men are really fun. They're very athletic. They can dunk and all those things. But if you're a true fan of basketball, I think that ours is really interesting because we play it the right way.

We play it really smart. Our season is shorter also, so, you know, we go a lot harder, I think, in our games. Twelve teams of twelve players, 144 of the world's best. Asia Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, the league's reigning champs is a three time mvp, including this season. Her game equal parts grace and power. Oh, the footwear.

That's pretty. And there's the OG, Diana Taurasi, still doing this in her early forties. A lot of these players are who I grew up watching on tv and wanting to be like, now I get to play against them. Now they're guarding you on the perimeter. Yeah, that's pretty cool. Clark herself already has a trademark shot, a jumper from just inside mid court. The logo three. Are you guys gonna make me shoot in these nice clothes? We got confidence in you. That's crazy.

I'm not even warmed up either. I only shoot from back there. In games, if I've, like, made a couple, then you get a free pass to, like, launch along three. So that's a free pass with the coach or that's a free pass with yourself. With your own basketball values, what would you say your range is? I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm closer than I am. Like, I don't feel that far back, especially in a game. I don't know, I kind of just lose sight of where I actually am, which is probably a good thing. But, you know, you're like one dribble past mid court sometimes.

Yeah. A couple dribbles past mid court. Part of her process, gauging the distance. This isn't like shooting a free throw. Logos vary court to court. Like, I would always want to see how big the logo is because, like, some people have, like, bigger logos at center court, some have smaller ones. So if it's pretty big, I can usually get there. I could probably get it here from here. All right. But I'm not.

Do you want me to try? Heck, no. Okay. But you have to try second. All right, let's see. All right. This is my off day. You guys are putting me through a workout. It's crazy. That's crazy. I didn't sign up for this. There we go. The bottom of the net. Success has changed the w's balance sheets. Corporate sponsors have arrived. Everybody, buddy. Everybody is wearing skims.

So have the celebrities. The league recently signed a media rights deal that will pay $200 million a season, more than a three fold increase. Kathy Engelbert is WNBA commissioner. The Caitlin Clark phenomenon, how do you describe it? She's clearly an unbelievable player. Came in with an unbelievable following, has brought a lot of new fans to the league. If you look at our historic season around our attendance, our viewership, Caitlin, angel two Angel Reese, Rekia Jackson, Cameron Brink.

This class of rookies, we will be talking about them a generation from now. I noticed when you're asked about Caitlin a lot, you bring up other rookies as well. No league's ever about one player. That player could get hurt or whatever. So I think it's just to give recognition that in sports, people watch for compelling content and rivalries, and you can't do that alone. As one person, though the commissioner touts league rivalries, competition has also brought out a certain ugliness. This season saw an onslaught of vitriol, often racists, targeting players. This in a league that is 75% black. There's no place for that in our sport.

Here's veterans star Breonna Stewart earlier this month, welcoming new fans, but demanding they act respectfully. A happier earmark of growth. The WNBA announced plans to expand from twelve teams to 16. And for the first time this season, players travel on charter flights. I mean, that's amazing. I miss my points a little bit. It's okay. Oh, your miles, your air miles. I miss my little points. No delta Miles. No delta Miles.

But it's okay. I think this is great, too, especially for recovery. You're able to get back that plane, get right back home after a game. The women that came before us, it's like, this is because of you guys. Like, you guys worked all this, and now here we are, and we're able to step into that, and it's a blessing for us. Nafisa Collier recalls the old days on the road, staying two to a room. We used to have to stay in, like, the team accredited hotels, and now we can stay wherever. So a lot more five star hotels was just nice. Five star hotels flying private. I know.

We're living the life. You're living the life. We're like professional athletes or something. Yeah. Look at my shoes. Look at my shoes. The surge in success this season is about more than the basketball. The arrival walk to the locker room is now a fixture in pro sports. W players absolutely own this space. Social media, rocket fuel that engages fans. Players love it.

Caitlin Clark included. Oh, my God. Everything. Who did this? Was this YouTube. Consistent with the life cycle of other successful pro sports leagues, the players are done taking one for the team. They now want to get paid. Note the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations between the league and the players. A rookie salary for the 42 game, $76,000 base salary for the MVP, $200,000. Yet the median NBA player salary this season, roughly $12 million.

You talk about this growth and these ratings numbers. What's a fair salary? I mean, someone like me, I love multiple commas just because, like, we deserve it. That's what we come in here night in, night out. We work hard. You see the viewership numbers up. You see everything up. I mean, I'm all for it. Cause I love a comma, like a comma in that salary. Yeah. As a union leader, Nafisa Collier, we'll be at the bargaining table.

The NBA shares revenues with its players roughly 50 50. And she wonders, is the w willing to do the same? As for commas, of course. That would be obviously amazing. I don't know how realistic, like, that is obviously the goal, and I hope that we can get there. How much should we compare, NBA and WNBA? We're not asking for the same salaries as the NBA. What we're looking for is Rev shares. They're making that because of Rev shares. And so that's what we're wanting, and that's how we close that gap. How we're sharing that pie. Yeah. How we're sharing it.

Meantime, building on this watershed season, the women of the WNBA will keep shooting their shot. There we go. Bang. You knew that when I left your hands. I know what I'm gonna miss. I know when I'm gonna make it. The worst is when it feels good and you still miss. But you know, as soon as it leaves your fingertips, it feels good. Yeah. So, like, if I miss it and it feels good, like, that's fine. You're okay with that? You feel good about your shot? Yeah.

With that, as encouragement from this season's rookie of the year, we finally gave in. I think you have to go now. Come on. Let's see if you can get it there. Two more. You know, I have no legs, so I can come in here. I'm confident. Let's see. I'm wearing this jacket. Oh, that's not bad. Get it there. Oh, my God. You gotta jump. Tight rims, I'm telling you. No, I think that might just be you, honestly.

Wnba, Sports, Women'S Basketball, Innovation, Inspiration, Entertainment, 60 Minutes