Next generation of guards could spark added growth in women’s game

The WNBA checked off a few boxes this season when it comes to the growth of the game. 

According to a league press release, the W had its most-viewed regular season across all national networks while also experiencing its highest total attendance since 2002. For a league that began its journey back in 1996 with the campaign slogan, “We got next”, the question for the W now is, what’s next? 

What’s next could be the most important era of grassroots development in the women’s game. What’s next is a group of young players with a vision of what’s possible and the creativity to captivate a larger audience. 

It’s no coincidence this increase in attention happened during Caitlin Clark’s rookie season. The WNBA Rookie of the Year already has the WNBA single-season assist record while setting rookie records in scoring and three-pointers. It’s deeper than numbers, though. Clark’s talent is proof that the women’s game doesn’t have to be the vertical game that is the NBA in order to capture more eyes. 

Elite skills, not athleticism, is the spark. Clark’s deep-range shooting and slick passing excites fans on all levels. Young hoopers used to want to jump high like Michael Jordan but now it seems most want to show off their range, vision and handle like Steph Curry and yes, Caitlin Clark. If you take a look at what is developing in gyms across the country, you’ll see a guard revolution is happening in the women’s game. 

USC sophomore JuJu Watkins is the perfect representation. At 6-foot-2, the L.A. native has a fluidity and flair to her game that’s just different. There’s an element to Watkins’ game that all great athletes have. She makes the game look easy.

There are other talented handlers of the rock in the college game. UConn senior Paige Bueckers is another hooper with a game that can help push the W to greater heights. She’s widely projected to be the top pick in the 2025 draft. Another name to watch is Notre Dame sophomore Hannah Hidalgo. Like Bueckers and Watkins, Hidalgo was named an Associated Press preseason All-American. 

It doesn’t stop on campus, though. 

Two of the most exciting high school players represent Lubbock, Texas and Wilmington, Delaware. To see how far the women’s game has come and where it’s going, watch a few clips of Monterey senior Aaliyah Chavez and Jezelle “GG” Banks, a sophomore at Ursuline Academy. You’ll see the boldness to shoot from deep mixed with creative finishing at the basket and a dizzying array of handles.

The names mentioned here represent just a few that signal a crucial era for the women’s game. It also shows how the game is being taught to girls with hoop dreams. They aren’t being told to hold back on expressing themselves with their craft on the court. 

There is a natural progression with this. As Clark, Watkins, Bueckers and others continue to rise, this will provide the next generation a vision of what’s possible in the women’s game and a foundation of skill that will only grow.

When you talk about growing an audience and interest in the W, these players and others like them will and should be at the forefront of the conversation. Fans of ball, hardcore and casual, share a common love. That’s witnessing the game played with the highest level of creative skill. 

The scoring, handle and passing abilities are steadily evolving at the grassroots level. The guard revolution is here and one day soon, we’ll see it all in full bloom.