The Evolution of the WNBA - A Look into the Past & Future

[@ChuckPhenomenal]

Great work man! Enjoyed every second of it!

[@HunterCruse14]

Thank you!

[@finisher3x]

Now THIS is the type of WNBA content that I like. Fact based, highlighting the strengths of the league, and showing the talent of the past, present, and future. Outstanding job on this video.

[@christophergooding9820]

I'm a big NBA fan trying to get more into WNBA and this vid was awesome thanks for making it.

[@HunterCruse14]

I really appreciate those kind words! The league is a ton of fun - if you have any questions, thoughts, etc. lmk!

[@Collegefootballproductions]

It’s actually a fun league and I feel like it’s getting more attention

[@Defender78]

Great overview of the League! 8:33, don't forget to mention Maya Moore, who was a rock of the WNBA from 2011-2018, who stepped away unfortunately.

[@HunterCruse14]

I did mention Maya, yes!

[@andyjacobs28]

I haven't watched a game since she left.

[@ranhill62]

No mention of Tameka Catchings 🤦🏿‍♂️ 5 time defensive player of the year, the only WNBA player to lead her team in every statistical category in a season. She did it five times. No other player has ever done it once. Also league MVP and finals MVP.

[@JP-rl4bc]

@@ranhill62 you're right about this.

[@rubiog8600]

Omg! Cynthia Cooper Was a Monster She was a Unbelievably Good Basketball Player ...🔥🏀

[@ChuckPhenomenal]

One of my top favorites!

[@andreypikaev2944]

Lol what are you smoking, all wnba players are garbage. A proper high school boys team would dumpster them

[@lamarbshannon]

The GOAT 🐐

[@billblaski9523]

Sheryl Swoopes or Cynthia Cooper?

[@rubiog8600]

@@billblaski9523 Cynthia.. But Sheryl was good too..Cynitha & Sheryl was like Mike & Scottie

[@msunpredictable86]

Man the old days were so good

[@HunterCruse14]

Haha thanks for watching!

[@purely.genuine]

Great video! I hope Bueckers recovers well because I feel like the next generation of her, Rhyne Howard and Caitlin Clark can really take the WNBA to that next level

[@HunterCruse14]

Appreciate it. Clark & Bueckers are among the most exciting prospects to enter the W over the next few drafts, same goes for Boston in 2023

[@purely.genuine]

@@HunterCruse14 For sure, as a UCONN fan though, seeing you mention Boston's name brought back some bad memories lol but definitely, she will be a huge force. I'm hoping South Carolina gives Zia Cooke a little more freedom next season too because I think she has Star potential, as well.

[@MarkelScott100]

@@purely.genuine sc always giving u bad memories lmao aja and boston

[@aka4god]

wnba 90s era was lit!! i dont know why but is was beautiful basketball. But now we're seeing more publicity which is. going to help with getting casual viewers to tune in

[@charlestaylor8785]

Tina Thompson was my favorite WNBA player back in the day I miss her playing

[@felipestrm]

This was amazing would love to see more thank you!

[@aldo.gr25]

That was an amazing video! A month from starting the 2023 season, I'd like to see the torch being passed to Maya Moore, EDD, Stewie, and Aj'a, unfortunately, only the last two are ready to win it all (I know Maya is retired and the EDD's medical condition makes things hard for her and her future in the league). One last thing. I'm not sure if at the time you mention the former WNBA players becoming coaches, you showed a picture of Becky Hammon. This woman won the title in her first year, signed the most lucrative contract in the history of the league, and the doors for being a Head Coach in the NBA are still open).

[@HyperDrive70]

Incredible Video!

[@HunterCruse14]

Thank you!

[@finisher3x]

The biggest evolution in the WNBA game, is the vastly improved guard play. The W has always had great guards at the top level, but this has been traditionally been a league dominated by forwards and centers. The guards, while still behind in elite level to the forwards, have overall progressed greatly. Their shooting is much better, and some have even flat out taken over games. The guard talent in the league right now is at an all-time high, even if none of them is as good as the great Cynthia Cooper.

[@randyacuna3248]

The WNBA has lasted 25 years and yet there are still basketball ( idiots) experts who are so negative in their opinions and call the WNBA a joke. They should be supporting the fact that women can play basketball too. There is a lot of great players in the WNBA .

[@HunterCruse14]

Well said!

[@weeger3930]

The WNBA has only ‘lasted’ that long because the NBA finances them. The league is a total net loss.

[@randyacuna3248]

@@weeger3930 the NBA believes in the WNBA, do you?

[@Shrugknight]

It's a subsidised league that loses money every year after receiving free money from the NBA. It's only lasted for 25 years cause it's a marketing ploy from the NBA and it would be bad PR for them to drop it so they pay the price for its existence. Question is why don't other women watch and support this?

[@jinov191]

lasted 25 years? You mean have been financially supported and keep alive for 25 years they would have folded long ago if it wasn't for the NBA and they still don't appreciate that $10-12 million per year donation.

[@rickmuscarella6837]

Wow it seems like there was a lot of enthusiasm for the league in the beginning, also a lot more fans in the arenas. Who ever is in charge of the wnba should stick to marketing the league better and concentrate on basketball instead of activism and social justice.

[@Michael-mt6yb]

If that’s what they find to be important let them do that. If you’re uncomfortable with justice for your fellow American maybe that’s something you need to work out.

[@Marcus-kc9wc]

The WNBA was made to make money and entertainment. would you want your local server to hand you your goods while spewing their political takes? The WNBA is a business failure and it will continue to be catering to people who don't understand that.

[@speedracertv4934]

The WNBA was never meant to be successful. It was meant for the US to have a women's league way tf after every other country had one. SURPRISE, its launch was successful and so it had to be sabotaged and ran into the ground by the higher ups. I'm sure the higher ups didn't like the activism either.

[@khobbie86]

Yes but the league makes no profit so if they don't want to stick to progressing and marketing the league to grow fan base and actually make a profit margine than they need to either hand over the reigns to someone who will focus on that while they do the other things that they are focusing on or they aren't going to have a platform to continue doing so

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

@@Michael-mt6yb Given its non-existent fan base, pretty much any behaviors coming from the players should be of concern to the league. If the league existed in order to further claims of injustice that have proven to be a turn-off to Americans in general - and sports fans in particular - that would be another matter. As is usually the case, it's less a matter of taking positions and more of taking stances that are actually informed while doing it at the appropriate time and place. Second-string-turned-former-NFL-quarterback Colin Kaepernick got to experience the result of not doing things in a thoughtful manner. I can't say he learned his lesson, but he "found out."

[@robertdominicceasarsalvill2221]

I used to remember way back in early 2010s where WNBA games were broadcasted in BTV in PH. That 2015 Finals Maya Moore vs Tamika Catchings and that 2016 Game 5 final moments of Lynx vs Sparks. Man that was back then almost a decade ago❤

[@gevenaowl1574]

See from Reddit really nice job! I am looking forward to your new video!

[@tempcbuilds]

wow, love how you compose this video!!!

[@Kkayroyal]

Great overview!

[@HunterCruse14]

Thank you!

[@andyjacobs28]

My all time favorites were Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Maya Moore, Candace Parker, and Lisa Leslie. I have no favorites now.

[@iakadayrneh]

We know they are your favorite because they are black truth is they are not that great......

[@lornam6195]

Amazing ladies👏🏀 Congratulations Las Vegas Aces♥️ 2022 Championship🏆

[@timcollins3794]

Yes, all 50 WNBA fans agree.

[@trevharpa9371]

It’s kinda funny how a dude has some of the most informative comments f not the most on the wnba keep up the good work

[@sadied0g]

No mention of yolanda Griffith smh

[@foshizzlfizzl]

I bet there are more people like me, who never ever watched a WNBA game.

[@Donnydon1996]

WNBA is the hottest sport rn..

[@sp123]

I get they are a year after your cutoff, but the list feels incomplete without Napheesa and Arike.

[@wbtittle]

Thank you for posting some GOOD examples of playmaking... in the WNBA..

[@karenwaddell9396]

Appreciate your technical assessment of the players. Your attitude and manner are the best! Thank you!

[@BasketballSociety_]

This is great work man

[@BasketballSociety_]

The evolution of the DUAL FORWARD in the WNBA is significant

[@glt918]

Amazing video my guy, keep it up!

[@HunterCruse14]

Thank you!

[@all4right702]

None of these women can't sit at the table with Cynthia Cooper or Sheryl Miller

[@wesleycrader3058]

Miller was a monster

[@DrShake-wy1dg]

It's all about Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Miller, Maya Moore, Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie

[@buddysally886]

Who

[@MrShanester117]

So they can sit at the table with them

[@jacquelineperry8515]

The best players you never heard of not giving opportunities cause of big name schools

[@dmac5472]

You should do a follow up forecasting the next 5 years. Everyone tells you this but your channel and the stuff you do w LockedOn are great resources for the bball fan that loves the technical/stats side of the game

[@HunterCruse14]

Thank you! By forecasting, do you mean predicting what I think will happen as far as champions, MVPs, draft, etc?

[@dmac5472]

@@HunterCruse14 not necessarily champions. But style of play, all wnba teams, stat leaders that type of thing.

[@nikie224]

Love this!!

[@laoaganlester1728]

I watched the earlier WBA, the Becky Hammon era and they were good but nowadays, it got worst!

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

You mean Comrade Hammon? :D

[@Dingle051554]

Kahleah Copper, Chicago Sky, 28 years young. I would choose her as a 2 all day.

[@TheDamianG]

Found your work today. Digging it. Be prepared for an influx of more subscribers now that more people are tuning into the WNBA

[@HunterCruse14]

Thank you!

[@OutOfContextMJ23]

That's good stuff. Keep going. It's "Rupert" not "Rupurt". And maybe I'm drinking too much of the french cool aid but, though I love that you mentionned Marine (my fave), I would have add Gabby Williams in the high-end starters tier list.

[@HunterCruse14]

She’s a bit too old (experience-wise) having played four seasons in the league. Appreciate it though!

[@OutOfContextMJ23]

@@HunterCruse14 I figured out that you were talking about rookies and sophomores afterwards. Sorry I'll pay better attention for the next one.

[@HunterCruse14]

All good!

[@countyboy3988]

I really enjoyed the video simply for the fact im so old i grew up with Rebecca Lobo and Lisa Leslie 😂😂

[@missezhoney2889]

Great video!

[@HunterCruse14]

Thank you!

[@joeymontepiedra]

Caitlyn Clark (2024), Azzi Fudd (2025) amd a healthy Paige Bueckers (2024 or 2025)

[@Kobamaron13]

Caitlyn Clark she a baller I don’t knw Azzi but Paige I don’t think so cus she got injured

[@randyacuna3248]

@@Kobamaron13 Paige can shoot but she needs mussel and a toughness that it takes for the physically. Even if fully recovered doesn't mean she will make the league. Lots of great shooters are cut all the time.

[@LordDisneyland]

R.I.P. Margo Dydek [']

[@eddiejohnson8582]

I've been watching👀 this game from the beginning, even though they are more talented, it is not as Fun as it used 2B! 4Ever "The Houston Comets" !!!

[@Donnie-bu3pt]

Great video

[@smellslikemiddle-agedspiri8503]

Bro, that’s Rebecca Lobo not Don Staley

[@reneewilliams5777]

Dawn Staley 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

Yeah. I noticed that she was in the vid and pic, but misidentified in the pic and generally not really mentioned even though she and Leslie seemed to be the faces ESPN was putting on the league.

[@RETRONICK24]

NaLSSA Smith lived in my subdivision, she would play point guard against men and do well, score alot and pass well

[@DrShake-wy1dg]

WNnba has been doing EVERYTHING it can to keep White Faces at the top Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Lauren Jackson, Ellena Delle Donne, now Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescue and Paige Bueckers

[@MarkelScott100]

Stfu with this race bs you acting like aja isnt the face of the league along with her teammates plum gray and rivial brianna stewart

[@sp123]

White women and black males sell the most sports tickets and merchandise. It is what it is. At the same time the white players are that good. The best player in the league right now is white (Breanna Stewart)

[@MarkelScott100]

@@sp123 not true aja is better than brianna

[@selfishstockton6123]

@@MarkelScott100she’s not better

[@robleavold84]

As a Aussie Lauren Jackson was always the Australian woman’s basketball GOAT a great player and leader.

[@lavonnealexander6936]

Naylssa Smith my favourite player.

[@phvntom__]

Only reason I’m watching this is because CC

[@candlewick96]

The quality of gameplay between the two generations of WNBA players are worlds apart. Today, WHINING seems to be the name of the game -- and not only in the WNBA.

[@phenomenal-fitness]

Agree 💯

[@IAMGavinMitchell]

The ABL was fire in the mid 90s.

[@rashadwashington4121]

I use to watch the wnba when it 1st got started. It was really good basketball

[@G0aton]

Why no: Jackie young, Kelsey Plum, ARIKE OGUNBOWALE🤦🏾‍♂️ I could keep going

[@roxjaw2895]

Great vid I disagree with you comparing Sabrina Ionescu too Tausauri she's nothing like her she can't dribble as good not a better scorer or could take over games like she did. I'll trade her for Chennedy Carter right now whose going to be a scoring machine

[@MarkelScott100]

Chennedy carter couldn't do shit with sparks Sabrina gonna have the liberty in the playoffs for yrs to come

[@rayeurill9322]

Maya Moore the goat to me 🤷🏾‍♂️ she had no flaws

[@Omaha-dx7tr]

😎 Cynthia Cooper was the best ever, stop overlooking her so much !!!

[@sp123]

Present of WNBA is Breanna Stewart, future is Sabrina Ionescu

[@HeavyJuicedPicks]

0:27 say whaaaaaa

[@James-ki5ix]

Yeah they're talking about you're girl from Iowa now!!!

[@dumbbellbully413]

Taurasi shouldn’t be anywhere near this list. Ask her can she spell defense?????????????

[@m.jackson2609]

I watched a lot of WNBA the first few years when they real good Women players like Cynthia Cooper, Swoopes, Thompson, Leslie, Lauren Jackson and others , who focused on basketball, married men, and respected this country. Today's WNBA is Woke NBA, too focus on social justice, disrespecting the National Anthem, Anti American, women hooking up with women, not really focused on improving their game, and year by year putting out a profit losing business thats a welfare league dependent on the NBA. Today's WNBA sucks and need to be revamped.

[@toolio5268]

I get the anti-American sentiments but what’s wrong with being some players being gay? Their personal lives don’t matter to u. Plus Caitlyn Clark is a rly good player who is so successful that she brought in enough money to get everyone in the league Chartered flights.

[@dacloffeblack]

You’re buggin if you think any era of women’s basketball could beat the 1999 squad. #youhadtobethere

[@juliorenerodriguez8323]

Me quedo con cintia cooper y sheryl shup las mejores

[@cdc7057]

This league is missing Candace Parker there's nobody left that has our grace to replace her

[@weeger3930]

Bruh how’d this shit get on my recommended wtf

[@Jordan5s]

🔥🔥

[@pedroyenepareoussi6259]

Iliana Rupurt???? Come on dude.....

[@sas2300]

Has the wnba evolved? Shouldn't it be getting better if it's evolving?

[@selfishstockton6123]

Evolving doesn’t mean better, just changed

[@PentaRaus]

They should play a 9th grade boys team to put their skills into perspective.

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

But not a good one, or an all-star team. They'd smoke the women as long as the height advantage is removed.

[@Meanandre]

If this is their future....wow they are in trouble!!

[@HunterCruse14]

Thanks for watching!

[@kurtcameron723]

Any boys high school team could beat these LBN's by double digits.......

[@selfishstockton6123]

What is lbn?

[@williamsmith5002]

Loved to see that dunk cos wnba players don't dunk

[@geralds6131]

The talent in the WNBA is regressing. Cynthia Cooper, Swoopes would average ppg in todays WNBA.

[@helloman3676]

Stop it. 😂😂😂 the girls now is 100x more athletic and would be able to keep up with them. It’s easy when you’re so ahead, now they’re the same athletic as the end of bench players. They would still be great but not dominant as you think.

[@magesean]

Regressing. .... Holy shit how can they get any worse. I have a team of 5 blind beavers. Should they play against each other. Maybe the girls might have a chance against 5 boys from the make a wish foundation. You know ... After they got their wish and are praying for death.

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

@@magesean "5 blind beavers"? Did the Minnesota Lynx change its name?

[@karenwaddell9396]

Always a Debbie downer..yeesh!

[@orlandomolina940]

Agreed

[@Omaha-dx7tr]

😎 Co😂oper was better than Swoops and Lisa Leslie and the rest, she started the "FIRE" in the wnba. Cooper crashed the party and became the queen give her her crown, the wnba trophy should be called the Cynthia Cooper award.

[@luisortiz1203]

Mike Dantoni is the most overrated coach ever literally his claim to fame is coaching an overstacked Phx Suns team lead by Amere Stoudmire and Steve Nash with other contributors like Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, Quetin Richardson, Leonardo Barbosa etc...

[@steven2212]

C'mon, they lose money every year, are completely subsidized by the NBA and have pathetic attendance numbers. This league should not exist.

[@HunterCruse14]

Roughly 10,000 people were in attendance for the Aces-Storm yesterday & similarly 9,000 in Sky-Sun, get with the times and look into the facts before making outlandish claims.

[@Richard-ks5fg]

Bro that’s just a couple games and I bet you they giving out a bunch of free tickets to fill up that stadium

[@Focalpoint223]

@@Richard-ks5fg tickets started at $10 for the finals. But I knew a few people that ended up getting free tickets. Chris Paul himself bought 500 tickets to help fill the seats as well as the usual employees trying to fill up the arena late

[@jinov191]

@@HunterCruse14 get with what times? regardless of that many people attending those games they still need millions from the NBA to survive because not enough people go to their games, that is a sad fact. They would not exist without the NBA. The American basketball league folded because it could not survive financially, they would still be going if the NBA gave them millions every year.

[@reneewilliams5777]

​@@jinov191the NBA was about to fail before the Showtime Lakers saved the league. No one wanted to watch the NBA , Baseball was the king of US sports until the Magic -Bird rivalry literally saved the league

[@anonymoususer1824]

I first dunked a basketball in the 10th grade when i was 5'10". Celebrating a dunk from a woman who is probably at least 6'8"+ is beyond laughable lol

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

Yes, but you probably didn't have the weight of oppression and profound unattractiveness weighing you down when you went up for the dunk.

[@John-sm8ts]

And still losing money like crazy

[@glennfabian]

The older wnba teams are much better. What happened?

[@kevinbmx98]

Wokeness

[@germiatejenkins4772]

Only recent female hooper I care at all about is Candace parker

[@stanwebb3480]

With the current league and its size...It is stagnating by drafting players then they do not make the team.... most bench players are not that good the teams have to up grade with younger players... with the league's current popularity they should expand... to many players are not making teams that should and to capitalize on this.... San Fran, Denver, Philadelphia?, Orlando,.... Here are 4 cities that have liberal populations that could have teams..... Sorry conservatives you could not handle the teams.......

[@HunterCruse14]

I’d disagree - teams are a bit too good, as you say, it’s common for teams to draft players that don’t have a roster spot in the league.

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

Being a little more tethered to market realities, I doubt conservatives would shed a tear about not being allowed to invest in an enterprise that has never turned a profit. It's already subsidized, which makes it a more perfect fit for more "liberal" cities. But I think you do touch upon something about the league, and women's sports in general. The mere fact that Sue Bird can play for 21 seasons - or, in tennis, that Serena Williams can be among the top female players in her sport - speaks volumes about how thin the talent is in women's sports. Bird was great to watch in college and she was a very good player in her early pro career. But she never had the sort of next-level skill set that should have garnered two decades in the game. Even if it was not evolving, there should have been a slightly better, faster, younger version of her to depose her after at most a decade.

[@VincentGordon-ev6sy]

The LNBA

[@Marcus-kc9wc]

Never thought that I'd watch a video of a "evolution" of a failing business.

[@reneewilliams5777]

They're actually doing better year over year lately

[@Jbeeze82]

Just shut this blooper bs down😂😂😂

[@1-hitter802]

Sorry I couldn’t make it through this video. Not even half way. See you next time.

[@HunterCruse14]

What do you think could be improved on? Open to feedback!

[@1-hitter802]

@@HunterCruse14 It's not to do with your channel or the presentation. It's the topic. I tried to get into the WNBA but it's impossible for me.

[@HunterCruse14]

@@1-hitter802 Oh okay, I appreciate you for giving the league a shot (most people don’t & just make assumptions off nothing)!

[@anon135]

WNBA is a joke, I tried watching a game but these players are BAD, Missing dunks, open shoots, And i cant tell you how many air balls. You get a better gane from middle school kids..... WNBA is a JOKE

[@James-ux5kv]

Fail. Take away NBA money they fold in 24hrs. They go to Europe to play in off season maybe they should just go convince them how much they think there worth see how that works out.

[@the_o_mack]

I'd rather watch paint dry then watch the wnba 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@biggchewy1212]

Cause you're a loser

[@aodeguzman4463]

Il like the old WNBA. Just the work and making the best of their skills and coaching. Nowadays, I don't watch the WNBA. What for they do not present anything new or exciting and they talk too much, anyway .

[@axemastersinc3269]

lol

[@indigenousagain1168]

Cancel this stupid league already

[@jinov191]

No one needs to cancel them, they will die in the wild if the NBA just quit paying them alimony.

[@countyboy3988]

Someone needs to cancel your account 😂😂

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

@@jinov191 Exactly. Like elsewhere. You don't have to fire him. Just don't renew his contract.

[@sinfulbeliever7083]

Boring

[@ChaseTwisters]

LNBA Lesbian National Basketball Association.

[@kurtcameron723]

Who cares!!!! Any high school boys team would beat these broads..

[@jbleyden8090]

I'm rather confused, why did you comment and watch this video if you hate the wnba so much. 🙄

[@glt918]

This is what inferior dudes say

[@roxjaw2895]

@@glt918 Kurt like to act tough around woman but be submissive around men he fears

[@Thurokiir1]

Homie got the smol penor

[@glt918]

@@roxjaw2895 😆

[@pimpernelsmith3798]

Maybe the WNBA will get better when trans-men start playing. LMAO!

[@toolio5268]

If a female player takes test and raises it to male levels then she wouldn’t be able to play in the WNBA anymore wtf. Also imagine saying women need to be on steroids to be a better league 💀

[@amanrush7722]

A look into losers and the money losing league.

[@LienAss-b5n]

This video was exciting at the beginning than it started to get boring 🥱😴