WNBA Finals overcame scheduling gaffe, cable paywall and iffy matchup to smash expectations

The WNBA has been on a steep upward trajectory for several years, but this year’s Finals threatened to upend the momentum the league had built. To start, none of the league’s marquee stars reached the championship series. Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever lost in the first round, while A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces fell in the semis. The recent fan favorite New York Liberty overcame a poor regular season to make the second round, but that’s where their season ended.