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Record numbers of basketball fans filled arenas to watch the rookie seasons of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese unfold. Simone Biles captivated the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Coco Gauff made women’s tennis history.

It was all part of a pivotal year for women in sports, financially and culturally, and after a steady rise in popularity and reach in recent years, the women’s game is more valuable than ever.

“(Clark)’s just moved the needle of the global movement of women in sports,” said softball great and Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch, “and what a thrill it’s been to be able to see her rise.”

The consulting firm Deloitte estimated in November 2023 that women’s sports would generate more than $1 billion in global revenue this year for the first time ever, which the company said is up about 300% from its last estimate in 2021. Skyrocketing viewership and corporate sponsorships were major factors.

The WNBA in July signed a historic 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC valued at about $200 million — a jump from about $60 million currently. Players hope higher salaries and a greater share of revenue could be on the horizon as parity, star power and competition in the WNBA continue to grow.

The WNBA had its most-watched regular season in 24 years and best attendance in 22 seasons, and commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a recent state-of-the-league address that players are getting a lot more marketing deals, turning them into household names. That includes Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson, who had one of the most dominant seasons in WNBA history, and Clark, who set numerous rookie records.

The decisive Game 5 of the WNBA finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx drew an average of 2.2 million viewers, peaking at 3.3 million, which made it the most-watched WNBA game in 25 years.

“We’ve been growing in popularity, endorsements, media rights, all of those things,” said Amira Rose Davis, a sports historian and assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

“This period is one of rapid acceleration,” Davis continued, “where all that growth seems to switch into overdrive, where the deals are getting bigger, where the visibility is stretching out.”

Clark, the sharp-shooting Indiana guard became a phenomenon when she played at Iowa, capitalized on a foundation laid by hoops stars such as Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker and Wilson, and turbocharged the visibility of women’s basketball.

Ticket sales to Indiana Fever games were up 182% in 2024 from the previous season. The Fever also shattered the attendance record of 13,398 set by the Liberty in 1998 with around 16,084 tickets sold per game. And games featuring Clark and her on-court rival Reese of the Chicago Sky prompted social media debates about basketball, race and culture.

“Something that I always tried to do with me was rise and elevate the game,” said Finch, now an adviser for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. “And that’s what (Clark)’s doing and her teammates. And just to be able to watch her do it and how humbly she does it, and the impact of not only domestic women’s basketball, but women’s athletics globally. It’s a dream.”

While many point to the WNBA as a blueprint for success in women’s sports, accomplishments in 2024 went far beyond one league or athlete.

Gauff, the 20-year-old tennis superstar, was the world’s highest-paid female athlete this year with $30.4 million in earnings, according to Sportico rankings. Gauff could not defend her 2023 U.S. Open title, but ended her 2024 season with a WTA finals title and a $4.8 million check — the biggest payout ever for a women’s tennis event, per Sportico.

The Olympics neared complete gender parity for the first time among the more than 11,000 men and women who competed in Paris this summer.

More than 34 million people across all NBC platforms in the U.S. watched Biles exorcise the demons of her surprising exit from the Tokyo games three years earlier. The 27-year-old shared a message of resilience and redemption as she added four gold medals to her resume. Nearly everything she did in Paris made headlines — a clap back at social media trolls, a revelation about her mental health, a moment of triumph. Her TikTok showing Team USA’s gold medals from team competition has more than 139 million views.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and Simone Biles

“She became a symbol,” Davis said. “Whether you wanted to symbolize her as persevering, or talking about mental health or refusal, the politics of refusal. Or (whether) you wanted to symbolize her as being a quitter — being everything that you’re bemoaning about the country. Either way, both projections elevated her even more.”

And as Gauff and Biles soared, other women’s leagues leveraged that visibility.

The Pro Women’s Hockey League brought in 392,259 fans during its inaugural regular season, highlighted by a women’s hockey record crowd of 21,105 at the home arena of the NHL’s Canadiens for a Montreal-Toronto matchup. The league also reached sponsorship deals with Scotiabank, Air Canada and Hyundai.

The PWHL’s strong first season showed its organizers and players that there’s an appetite for women’s sports, so much so that there are hopes to expand from six to eight teams in 2025.

“For many of us that have been in the game for so long, it’s emotional to think about where the game’s come from, where we’ve come to,” said Jayna Hefford, the league’s senior vice president of hockey operations. “We spend a lot of time reading research and all these things that suggest the time is now and that the fandom is there. And to be able to live that and feel it in real time was pretty special.”

Keith Stein and Justine Siegal want to capitalize on the women’s sports landscape too.

Siegal, a former baseball player and coach, partnered with Stein, a lawyer and businessman, to create the Women’s Pro Baseball League, which last month announced plans to launch in 2026 as a six-team circuit for female players. It will be the first pro league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League dissolved in 1954.

“Leagues like the WNBA and (National) Women’s Soccer League have done a lot of the heavy lifting,” Stein said, “and they’re part responsible for the moment we’re having right now where women’s sport is a phenomenon.

“I think there’s, in some ways, a lot more momentum behind the development of professional women’s sports leagues than for men’s.”

The Associated Press women’s player of the year was recently named. It was WNBA player Caitlin Clark. Clark had a significant impact in the league this year both in terms of performance and in bringing viewership in her rookie season itself. Thus, she won 35 votes. The athlete who finished second was the goat Simone Biles, who had a brilliant Paris Olympics where she ended up winning four medals.

Simone had a point to prove after so many people doubted her after her withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics. But the gymnast showed her expertise on the mat and grabbed three gold medals. This earned her 25 votes from the jury. However, what caught fan’s attention was the third athlete on the list and the fact that the Associated Press gave Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif a place in the final.

The boxer has been under a lot of scrutiny and a topic of numerous raging debates ever since she made her first appearance in the Paris Olympics. This is because many have claimed that Imane, who competes in the female category, is a biological male. The rumors of this intensified even more when one of her opponents, Angela Carini, forfeited her bout against Imane Khelif as one of her punches hit her way too hard. This led to many fans asking for her disqualification from the competition. But Imane went on to win the gold medal, which did not sit right with many.

These people have been angered even more after she received four votes for the female athlete of the year, leading them to express their anger on social media. They believed that, as the case of Imane being a male or female still lies in ambiguity, it wasn’t right for her to be standing with two incredibly accomplished women athletes, Simone Biles and Caitlin Clark. Some, who have already made up their minds on Imane Khelif’s gender, have even trolled the boxer on social media.

One fan crudely said, “What a farce he/it got 4 votes! A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its members voted on the award. Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second with 25, and boxer Imane Khelif was third, getting four votes.” Thus, some fans were quite unhappy about the whole thing.

Simone Biles

Olympics gold medalist’s inclusion in list sparks huge debate

Most fans were left immensely unhappy with the decision to give Imane Khelif a place in the finals of the Female Athlete of the Year list. “How was Khelif a finalist for Female Athlete of the Year? So tired of this nonsense,” said one fan. Amidst all the rumors of Imane Khelif being a biological male, the boxer had a lot of people rooting against her and waiting for the opportunity to celebrate her defeat. However, she rose above the critics and ended up winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

This is why she has also gained some support from a fraction of the fans post the competition. They believe that the boxer completely deserves her medal, and anything said against her is an attempt to pull her down while she is at the top. “If Imane Khalif is a woman, her condition does not make her any less of a woman. She doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. AND even at the end of 2024 it burns for them to see a woman succeed in a sport,” said one fan. Thus, the boxer remained a divisive subject among the fans.

But while this debate raged on, Simone Biles’ fans had a different bone to pick with the list. They completely believed that the gymnast had done enough this year in the Paris Olympics to make her the female athlete of the year over Caitlin Clarke. “I love that CC has made a huge impact on the WNBA, but she should never win any award over Simone Biles. I know gymnastics isn’t shown on ESPB every day, but people must not fully comprehend what Biles is and does. She’s the best female gymnast ever in the history of the world,” said one fan.

There is some obvious legitimacy to this claim. After all, Simone Biles winning four medals at the Olympics while defeating her rivals in gymnastics can’t be taken lightly at all. As this is such a regular task for her, many people have made the mistake of doing so, believing that this is merely habitual for her. But Simone had an extraordinary Olympics, which can very well stake a claim at the accolade.

Another fan also spoke about Simone Biles’ achievements while bringing two other candidates into the fray. “There were numerous athletes who should have been named Athlete of the Year over CC. AW scored 1000 points (first to do it) and won a gold medal. Simone Biles dominated women’s gymnastics and won multiple Olympic medals. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dominated women’s track and field.”

A’ja Wilson played a crucial role in the US basketball team winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and thus deserves her flowers as well. On the other hand, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s unprecedented dominance in hurdling, where she has broken the world record six times, with two occasions coming this year, warranted a mention too. But this is not to say that Caitlin Clark or Imane Khelif deserved it any less. With fans continuing to pick sides, the list definitely seems to be controversial!

Simone Biles Reveals the Unexpected Way She Plans Her Custom WAG Outfits for Husband Jonathan Owens’ NFL Games

Simone Biles may dress to impress whenever she hits the stadium stands, but she’s actually super hands-off when it comes to putting her game-day outfits together.

In an exclusive interview for Olympics.com, the decorated gymnast, 27, admitted that she usually lets the makers of her custom clothing decide what she wears to her husband Jonathan Owens’ football matches.

“I reach out to some of the creators that make the apparel, and I have no ideas. I let them kind of freeball it, and I say, ‘Surprise me.’ And then that’s how I piece them together,” she says of her ensembles, which usually have a stylish nod to Owens, who plays safety for the Chicago Bears.

For the Bears match against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 22, hosted at Chicago’s Soldier Field, the Simone Biles Rising star wore a black shirt with a bedazzled “36” on it, inspired by Owens’ jersey number, a Prada bucket hat, puffer coat and $1,390 Prada ski boots. “Today’s ‘fit is actually very simple, just because me and my friends’ outfits didn’t come in time. So, this is my back-up,” she explained to the outlet, who filmed the interview while Biles headed to the event.

Like many WAGs (a.k.a. the term for the wives and girlfriends of famous athletes) like Taylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes, Olivia Culpo and Ciara, Biles has a wardrobe full of clothing and accessories dedicated to her man and his NFL team.

At the Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers matchup on Dec. 8, the athlete rocked a cool pair of jogger sweatpants with “Owens” printed on the front. Last month, at the Bears game against the Minnesota Vikings before Thanksgiving, she pulled off a denim bomber jacket with her married name spelled out in the center.

While Biles hasn’t really shared where she actually sources her bespoke items, she has publicly tapped fellow WAG Kristin Juszczyk, who’s married to San Francisco 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk, to design a custom puffer vest for her when Owens played for the Green Bay Packers.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens

In her chat with Olympics.com, Biles shared what it means for her to be cheering on her significant other after being on the receiving end of his support at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It means the world to me. And I know it means so much to him for me to be able to go and support his games. For him, it means a lot for me to go on the sideline before because he says that’s his pre-game routine. So he’s always looking for me on the sideline to give him, like, good luck vibes and wishes. That’s just his superstition.”

The Olympic star previously spoke to PEOPLE about how, since being with Owens, she’s immersed herself more in the sport he plays after “never” getting into it growing up.

“I’ve learned so much and even some of his teammates’ wives are like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’ve come so far, you’ve learned so much,’ because they’ve seen the journey,” she said.

When Simone Biles attended her first Chicago Bears game to cheer Jonathan Owens, she landed in big trouble with the fans. That’s because the 27-year-old wore a Green Bay Packers jersey. However, the gymnast was quick to rectify her mistake and since then has been on a roll, nailing every game day look with custom Bears-inspired outfits paying homage to her husband.

Now amid the sports power couple enjoying their time in Las Vegas, an interview has revealed the Olympian’s NFL game-day fashion secrets. Just hours before the Chicago Bears match with Detroit last Sunday, Biles sat for an exclusive backseat interview with Olympics Gymnastics. When asked about her outfit, the seven-time gold medalist revealed her approach.

“Today’s fit is actually very simple, just because me and my friend’s outfits didn’t come in time. So this is my backup,” said Simone Biles. Every element of the gymnastics legend’s ‘backup’ outfit was jet black, with the only exception being her full-sleeve top, which had Owens’ jersey #36 written on it with silver gems. And it’s these custom touches that make Biles’ outfits so memorable.

However, the eleven-time Olympic medalist leaves these custom touches to the designers who make them. Instead of being too hands-on with each design, she trusts the artists. “Honestly, I reach out to some of the creators that make the apparel, and I have no ideas. I let them kind of free ball it, and I say surprise me. And then that’s how I piece them together,” confessed Simone Biles.

However, now that the defending world champion has to wait until Thursday to debut her next outfit, the gymnast is enjoying a trip to Vegas. “To Vegas for 24 hours,” Simone Biles posted on her Instagram story. While it’s unsure if Jonathan Owens has joined his wife on the trip, she is not without company. “Y’all need friends like mine!! But not these ones… Get your own,” Biles joked.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens

The Olympic champion added the caption to a group photo collage with her friends. However, there’s a reason why the Olympic gold medalist kept her trip to Vegas short. After all, she can’t miss Owens’ next match against the Seahawks.

Simone Biles is yet to unveil her favorite outfit

When asked about her favorite NFL outfit, the Olympic gold medalist explained that she hasn’t worn her favorite one yet. However, that will change on December 27, when the Bears take on the Seahawks at 7:15 p.m., CDT. “My favorite one so far is one that I haven’t worn, and I’m wearing it to Thursday’s game,” Biles told Olympics Gymnastics.

So while she hasn’t worn it, Biles must’ve already received the outfit she plans to wear to the game. And for the gymnastics icon to proclaim it her favorite so far must mean it’s a special one. GQ Sports is up for Biles receiving a gold medal for her game-day fashion. “Simone Biles deserves another gold medal for her sideline fits,” they wrote in a recent Instagram post.

The post showcased several of her most memorable outfits, each with the 36 on it as an homage to Jonathan Ownes. In fact, the NFL safety himself shared the post on his Instagram story. Who knows? Thursday’s outfit might just make GQ get Simone Biles yet another gold medal after all. Yet which one is your favorite among the gymnastics legend’s iconic NFL outfits? Let us know in the comments.

What does an Olympic champion do when they want to risk it all? We have here Jade Carey, who was in Paris recently to compete alongside her Olympic hero, Simone Biles, and is set to make a risky decision in her gymnastics career in the months following the games. In this way, Carey is risking it all to learn a new skill in hope of achieving something greater in the NCAA Championships, which is a huge decision for her given the risks involved and the fact that she has had a very demanding season.

Carey’s choice is more than just an attempt to add flair to her routines. It’s a calculated risk, especially given the toll her body has already endured during the Olympics. Yet, for someone like Carey, challenges are opportunities, and her latest ambition reflects her unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Embracing new challenges after the Olympics

Jade Carey, 24, is an Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020, floor exercise) and NCAA gymnast at Oregon State. She is known for her powerful routines; she continues to push boundaries with new skills and innovation. She recently revealed her decision to learn a double layout off bars, a skill she’s never performed before. “I wanted to learn a double layout off bars this year because I feel like it’ll just be fun to do something new,” she said.

Carey is excited for the challenge. But the double layout is known for its technical complexity, making it a daring addition to her repertoire. Her decision highlights the fearless mindset of an athlete who thrives on pushing boundaries. Despite having already reached the pinnacle of success at the Olympics, Carey’s focus remains on growth and innovation. This ambitious move signals her readiness to not just compete but to dominate in the collegiate gymnastics arena.

Simone Biles

The timing of this gamble adds another layer of intrigue. With the NCAA season approaching, the regular season begins in January 2025, and the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships is happening in April (on the 17th and 19th) at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Carey has little room for error as she works to perfect the skill. Her determination to take on this challenge, despite the risks, speaks volumes about her drive to evolve in gymnastics.

Jade Carey reflects a mindset of true sportsmanship

Carey’s decision to take this gamble stems in part from her experiences during the Paris team finals, where she faced setbacks on gymnastics’ grandest stage. A critical error on vault disrupted her routine, impacting the U.S. team’s overall performance, but they turned up with silver. But it showcases the high-pressure environment and physical toll of the competition that challenged her resilience. Those challenges could have been a stumbling block, but she has turned them into motivation. Her resilience shines through as she uses those moments to fuel her pursuit of new goals.

The double layout isn’t just about technical mastery; it’s about redemption. Jade Carey’s ability to rise after adversity reflects the mindset of a true champion, one who refuses to let setbacks define her story. This new skill is a bold statement that she’s ready to move forward, stronger than ever. As an NCAA competitor, Carey now has a chance to cement her legacy beyond the Olympic spotlight.

The skill can elevate her routines and also set her apart as a standout performer in the collegiate scene. Jade Carey’s gamble for the NCAA Championships is a testament to her fearless ambition and determination. By embracing risks and turning setbacks into stepping stones, she continues to inspire athletes everywhere. The gymnastics world now waits eagerly to see if this bold move will solidify her legacy as one of the sport’s most resilient competitors.

Simone Biles went full-on fangirl for her husband, Jonathan Owens, as the Chicago Bears went head-to-head with the Detroit Lions in Sunday night’s game.

Despite the Bears’ defeat to the Lions, 17-34, the Olympic gymnast showed unwavering support for her husband with a sweet yet subtle gesture.

In a post shared on the team’s official Instagram, Owens sported a white NFL shirt that showed off his amazing physique and tattoos, which he paired with jersey shorts and compression tights.

Simone Biles went full-on fangirl for her husband, Jonathan Owens, as the Chicago Bears went head-to-head with the Detroit Lions in Sunday night’s game.

Despite the Bears’ defeat to the Lions, 17-34, the Olympic gymnast showed unwavering support for her husband with a sweet yet subtle gesture.

In a post shared on the team’s official Instagram, Owens sported a white NFL shirt that showed off his amazing physique and tattoos, which he paired with jersey shorts and compression tights.

On Biles’ Instagram Stories, she shared the NFL’s post along with a sweet two-word reaction.

“OHHHH BABBYYYY,” she wrote, sending an affectionate message.

The 27-year-old Olympic gymnast married Owens in April 2023 after first meeting through the dating app Raya in March 2020.

Over a year into their marriage, Biles has been a supportive wife to the Bears’ safety, watching his games in her custom-made outfits and cheering for him whenever she can.

Sunday at Soldier Field was more than just football. Simone Biles showed up to cheer on her husband, Jonathan Owens, as his Chicago Bears faced off against the Detroit Lions. And let’s be real—Jonathan’s squad needed all the support they could get. After eight straight losses, another L would’ve been the nail in their playoff coffin. But while the game had its stakes, the real drama? Jonathan’s pre-game fit.

Picture this: JO rocking a high-neck vest on the sidelines, complete with a cap to brave the chilly weather. But no jersey in sight? A bold move, especially given the freezing Chicago temps. Was it an attempt to emulate the Tennessee Volunteers’ trick while facing Ohio State in its College Football playoff last week? But what did they do?

Just before the game against Ohio State, several VoIs players took the field shirtless. They were bare-bodied, doing the physical drills. It was a cold situation, and the Volunteers were desperate to continue shedding sweat, keeping their bodies open to the air. Did JO copy that on Sunday?

Maybe. Maybe not. What we do know is that Simone Biles was all in. She posted an Instagram story featuring her man’s game-day look, captioning it, “OHHHH BABBYYYY.

Team USA gymnast Suni Lee has broken her silence about controversial comments made by former teammate MyKayla Skinner

Lee, 21, addressed a dig made by Skinner, 27, in June, when she said in a since-deleted YouTube video, “Besides Simone [Biles], I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be. I mean, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic.”

Skinner and Lee were teammates on the 2020 Olympic team that took home all-around silver in Tokyo. 

“We have a lot of love for her, but it’s frustrating to see her put us down because she knows, basically, about every single thing that we’ve all been through,” Lee told Glamour in a story published Thursday, October 3. “It was more annoying because of all the things that I’ve been through.”

In the year leading up to the 2024 Games, Lee was diagnosed with two types of kidney disease. 

“I wasn’t able to go to the bathroom,” she recalled to Glamour. “I couldn’t bend my legs because they were so swollen, and my fingers too. My eyes were almost swollen shut. I was like, ‘Something is happening.’”

After months of frustration, Lee called USA Gymnastics cohead physician Marcia Faustin who ultimately helped get her tested and diagnosed. 

“It just goes to show the importance of speaking up and advocating for yourself, because if I wouldn’t have, who knows what I would have been doing right now,” Lee said. 

Once Skinner’s comments about the 2024 squad caught fire, they became a bit of a rallying cry for the group, who took home all-around gold in Paris. 

Suni Lee

“Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions ❤️🥇🇺🇸,” Biles, 27, captioned a photo via Instagram after taking home gold alongside teammates Lee, Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera and Jordan Chiles.

Every Medal Team USA Won at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Skinner — who later said her comment was “misinterpreted” and “wasn’t always necessarily about the current team” — returned to social media after Biles’ thinly-veiled jab after winning gold.

“I sincerely hoped that this topic wouldn’t need to be revisited but unfortunately things have really gotten out of hand lately,” Skinner said in a video posted via Instagram August 6. “And it’s one thing to disagree with me regarding something I have said or a point I was trying to make, but it’s something else entirely when that turns into cyber bullying or even worse.”

Skinner continued, “Watching people cheer on the bullying — which has led to threats of physical harm to me, my husband and our daughter — is disgusting. So please at this point, I’m just asking for it to stop for the sake of my family because enough is enough.”

Record numbers of basketball fans filled arenas to watch the rookie seasons of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese unfold. Simone Biles captivated the world at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Coco Gauff made women’s tennis history.

It was all part of a pivotal year for women in sports, financially and culturally, and after a steady rise in popularity and reach in recent years, the women’s game is more valuable than ever.

“(Clark)’s just moved the needle of the global movement of women in sports,” said softball great and Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch, “and what a thrill it’s been to be able to see her rise.”

The consulting firm Deloitte estimated in November 2023 that women’s sports would generate more than $1 billion in global revenue this year for the first time ever, which the company said is up about 300% from its last estimate in 2021. Skyrocketing viewership and corporate sponsorships were major factors.

The WNBA in July signed a historic 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC valued at about $200 million — a jump from about $60 million currently. Players hope higher salaries and a greater share of revenue could be on the horizon as parity, star power and competition in the WNBA continue to grow.

The WNBA had its most-watched regular season in 24 years and best attendance in 22 seasons, and commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a recent state-of-the-league address that players are getting a lot more marketing deals, turning them into household names. That includes Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson, who had one of the most dominant seasons in WNBA history, and Clark, who set numerous rookie records.

The decisive Game 5 of the WNBA finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx drew an average of 2.2 million viewers, peaking at 3.3 million, which made it the most-watched WNBA game in 25 years.

“We’ve been growing in popularity, endorsements, media rights, all of those things,” said Amira Rose Davis, a sports historian and assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

“This period is one of rapid acceleration,” Davis continued, “where all that growth seems to switch into overdrive, where the deals are getting bigger, where the visibility is stretching out.”

Clark, the sharp-shooting Indiana guard became a phenomenon when she played at Iowa, capitalized on a foundation laid by hoops stars such as Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker and Wilson, and turbocharged the visibility of women’s basketball.

Ticket sales to Indiana Fever games were up 182% in 2024 from the previous season. The Fever also shattered the attendance record of 13,398 set by the Liberty in 1998 with around 16,084 tickets sold per game. And games featuring Clark and her on-court rival Reese of the Chicago Sky prompted social media debates about basketball, race and culture.

“Something that I always tried to do with me was rise and elevate the game,” said Finch, now an adviser for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. “And that’s what (Clark)’s doing and her teammates. And just to be able to watch her do it and how humbly she does it, and the impact of not only domestic women’s basketball, but women’s athletics globally. It’s a dream.”

While many point to the WNBA as a blueprint for success in women’s sports, accomplishments in 2024 went far beyond one league or athlete.

Gauff, the 20-year-old tennis superstar, was the world’s highest-paid female athlete this year with $30.4 million in earnings, according to Sportico rankings. Gauff could not defend her 2023 U.S. Open title, but ended her 2024 season with a WTA finals title and a $4.8 million check — the biggest payout ever for a women’s tennis event, per Sportico.

The Olympics neared complete gender parity for the first time among the more than 11,000 men and women who competed in Paris this summer.

More than 34 million people across all NBC platforms in the U.S. watched Biles exorcise the demons of her surprising exit from the Tokyo games three years earlier. The 27-year-old shared a message of resilience and redemption as she added four gold medals to her resume. Nearly everything she did in Paris made headlines — a clap back at social media trolls, a revelation about her mental health, a moment of triumph. Her TikTok showing Team USA’s gold medals from team competition has more than 139 million views.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese

“She became a symbol,” Davis said. “Whether you wanted to symbolize her as persevering, or talking about mental health or refusal, the politics of refusal. Or (whether) you wanted to symbolize her as being a quitter — being everything that you’re bemoaning about the country. Either way, both projections elevated her even more.”

And as Gauff and Biles soared, other women’s leagues leveraged that visibility.

The Pro Women’s Hockey League brought in 392,259 fans during its inaugural regular season, highlighted by a women’s hockey record crowd of 21,105 at the home arena of the NHL’s Canadiens for a Montreal-Toronto matchup. The league also reached sponsorship deals with Scotiabank, Air Canada and Hyundai.

The PWHL’s strong first season showed its organizers and players that there’s an appetite for women’s sports, so much so that there are hopes to expand from six to eight teams in 2025.

“For many of us that have been in the game for so long, it’s emotional to think about where the game’s come from, where we’ve come to,” said Jayna Hefford, the league’s senior vice president of hockey operations. “We spend a lot of time reading research and all these things that suggest the time is now and that the fandom is there. And to be able to live that and feel it in real time was pretty special.”

Keith Stein and Justine Siegal want to capitalize on the women’s sports landscape too.

Siegal, a former baseball player and coach, partnered with Stein, a lawyer and businessman, to create the Women’s Pro Baseball League, which last month announced plans to launch in 2026 as a six-team circuit for female players. It will be the first pro league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League dissolved in 1954.

“Leagues like the WNBA and (National) Women’s Soccer League have done a lot of the heavy lifting,” Stein said, “and they’re part responsible for the moment we’re having right now where women’s sport is a phenomenon.

After her triumphant comeback at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles is giving her body a well-deserved break. For the gymnastics GOAT, that means leaving behind some of her most challenging and gravity-defying moves. She shared in a Threads post on Dec. 15 that she has no intention of ever doing one of her eponymous skills again.

“the fact I’ll never do a triple double again,” Biles wrote, adding a face-holding-back-tears emoji as she publicly said goodbye to the floor exercise element that required her to simultaneously execute three twists and two backflips in a tucked position.

The triple-double is one of Biles’ signature skills. She became the first-ever woman to land it in competition at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in August 2019. Weeks later, the element gained the name the Biles II when she successfully executed it in international competition for the first time at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

“I feel like you should never settle just because you are winning or you are at the top,” Biles told the New York Times in the lead-up to her debuting the skill and winning the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. “You should always push yourself.”

Now that Biles’ triple-double days are over, fans are as emotional as the seven-time Olympic gold medalist is. She remains the only woman to compete it, and gymnastics lovers made sure to applaud her incredible feat. “You don’t have to do another one,” a fan responded to her post. “You’re already the GOAT.”

At this stage in her career — and after becoming the most-decorated gymnast ever with 11 Olympic medals and 30 world medals — 27-year-old Biles knows her body needs to rest. She also retired her Yurchenko double pike vault in September, after it helped her on her way to gold in the Olympic all-around and vault finals in Paris.

Simone Biles
Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrates after performing in the floor exercise during the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Posting a photo of herself sitting on a vault table and surrounded by flowers, Biles wrote, “rest in peace yurchenko double pike,” alongside a heart-hands emoji. Also called the Biles II due to gymnastics’ naming system, the vault is another skill that she is the only woman to ever land in competition.

Biles opened up about the vault’s intense difficulty during her 2021 Facebook Watch docuseries, Simone vs. Herself, saying, “Usually when you do a new skill, you’re scared the first couple of times and then you kind of get used to it. But every time I stand down at that vault runway, I’m, like, praying.”

Though she’s putting some of her signature skills to rest, Biles still hasn’t announced her retirement from gymnastics. Before the premiere of Netflix’s Simone Biles: Rising Part 2 in October, she indicated to the Los Angeles Times that she still doesn’t have an answer about whether or not she’ll try to compete in the next Olympics in 2028.

“You never know what can happen in four years,” she said. “Gotta wait and see.”