It was a historic year for women’s basketball across the WNBA and NCAA. From jaw-dropping performances to shattering records, players, as well as fans, showed up in the big moments. Let’s take a look back at some of the most exciting moments from 2023.
9.9 million - Most Viewed Women’s College Basketball Game
The 2023 March Madness championship game between LSU and Iowa drew a record number of viewers. With a 104% increase from the championship game in 2022, fans nationwide tuned in to watch stars like LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s Catlin Clark, as LSU won their first national championship.
55,646 - Iowa Sets Women’s Basketball Attendance Record
Under the lights of Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa hosted DePaul on October 15 to set the record for the highest attendance of a women’s college basketball game. Fans that packed the outdoor game were treated to an Iowa win with a final score of 94-72, plus a Caitlin Clark triple-double of 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
939 - Jewell Loyd Sets New Single-Season Scoring Record
Jewell Loyd was the focal point of the Seattle Storm offense in 2023, which catapulted her to the top of the record books with 939 points scored in the season. The previous single-season scoring record was set by Diana Taurasi in 2006 with 860. Both Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson surpassed Taurasi’s total this season with 919 and 912 points, respectively. In the end, it was Loyd who came out on top, averaging 24.7 points per game.
53 - A’ja Wilson Ties The Record For Most Points In A Game
On August 22, A’ja Wilson put up a record-tying 53 points in a win against the Atlanta Dream. This ties the record that was set by Liz Cambage on July 17, 2018. Wilson shot 16-for-23 and also tallied 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.
11 - Alyssa Thomas’ Career Triple-Double Total Grows
During the 2023 WNBA season, Alyssa Thomas recorded 7 triple-doubles, bringing her career total to 11. One of her most notable of the season came on August 1, when Thomas recorded 21 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists. Thomas has made herself known for being a threat on both offense and defense and finished second in the league MVP race this season.
2 - Las Vegas Aces Win Their Second Straight WNBA Championship
Many people had doubts, but the Las Vegas Aces proved they were once again the best team in the WNBA. They defeated the New York Liberty in the finals to secure their second straight championship. All season long, the newly-formed Liberty roster with Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot was thought to be the team that could take down the Aces. But even without starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes in Game 4, Las Vegas was able to utilize their star talent of Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and finals MVP A’ja Wilson to bring home another trophy.