Pro women’s basketball is on the rise, and the sport’s historic growth is fueled in part by the college game’s skyrocketing popularity. The WNBA is the gold standard league in the U.S. — but there are other domestic opportunities for NCAAers to make it big.

Dreams will come true tonight at the 2024 NBA Draft and the majority of selectees will hail from the NCAA.

The Minnesota Lynx are your 2024 Commissioner’s Cup champs. They topped the NY Liberty 94–89 in last night’s fast-paced battle and will take home about $30K per player from the in-season tourney’s total $500K prize. Here’s how it went down, including some of the controversy surrounding the champ game.

It’s already been a banner year for the Las Vegas Aces, who became the first WNBA team to sell out all regular season home games last Thursday. While the mainstream media has largely focused on rookie hype, the Aces’ numbers don’t lie: Dynasties are the real money makers.

The WNBA’s fourth annual Commissioner's Cup — an in-season battle for hardware and cold hard cash — tips off tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, featuring two red-hot squads: the Minnesota Lynx out of the Western Conference and the host NY Liberty (the defending Cup champs) representing the Eastern Conference. Taking “can’t miss” to a whole new level.

It’s no secret that stars sell, and that’s exactly what the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark did in their June 15th matchup, which was the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. They’re poised to be the WNBA’s next big rivalry, and while all this attention may feel new, superstar clashes have powered the W and NBA in the past.

Following up last year’s NWSL valuations, Sportico released estimated valuations for all 12 WNBA teams yesterday. Leading the pack? The back-to-back champions Las Vegas Aces at $140M, followed by the Seattle Storm at $135M.

ICYMI, the Boston Celtics won their NBA-record 18th championship with Monday’s Game 5 106–88 rout of the Dallas Mavericks. While they fire up the duck boats, here’s a look at Boston’s historic victory, by the numbers.

And just like that, the NBA Finals are no longer destined for the broom closet — the Dallas Mavericks staved off a sweep by the Boston Celtics (now up 3-1), routing the Cs 122–84 in Friday’s Game 4. These balls just keep bouncing.

The WNBA’s value is skyrocketing, and it’s projected to get up to $240M for its upcoming media rights deal, which will reportedly be negotiated alongside the NBA’s multibillion-dollar deal.

Fresh off Wednesday’s 106–99 Game 3 win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics (up 3-0) are one win away from a league record 18th championship trophy. Will the dominant Cs complete the sweep or can the Mavs stay alive? Here’s what to know ahead of tonight’s massive 8:30 p.m. ET Game 4.

Business is booming through the first month of the WNBA’s 2024 season. On yesterday’s episode of The GIST of It, co-host Ellen Hyslop put its early wins into perspective of how long the league has been here and where it’s headed next. Here are a few key metrics released by the league that prove the W has entered a whole new era.