LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Aces president Nikki Fargas has seen how far the WNBA has come since its inception in 1996.
“We’ve come a long way, but we still got a long way to go,” Fargas said.
Fargas, alongside South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley and Las Vegas Aces point guard Chelsea Gray, spoke to South Carolina boosters and Aces season ticket holders on Sunday. Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie was also in attendance.
They discussed several topics ranging from the importance of a point guard to a basketball team to the growth of the women’s game.
Gray viewed it as an opportunity to speak directly to season ticket holders.
“They’re here for us every single game,” Gray said. “So, of course, I said yes [to speaking at the event], but also the opportunity to speak with Nikki and alongside Coach Staley is awesome.”
This weekend, we had the pleasure of welcoming our Aces season ticket members to our second Courtside Convos Panel ???? — where @NikkiFargas, @cgray209, and special guest @dawnstaley discussed the current state and future of women's sports. pic.twitter.com/EgflX1VRft
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) November 4, 2024
The WNBA saw its highest ratings this past season with its mix of old and newer stars. The Aces and South Carolina women’s basketball team have sold out their season ticket allotments for the upcoming year.
But even with the growth, it was just the tip of the iceberg for how women’s basketball will continue to grow.
“The competition is getting harder and harder. You’ve got great franchises that are coming into the W,” Fargas said. “You’ve got other franchises that are deciding that they’re going to step up and elevate and give more resources to these women. All of those things are just a plus and a positive. I don’t see that going any other way.”
One of the reasons Fargas said the women’s game is growing is because the personalities. From players like the Aces’ A’ja Wilson to coaches like Staley, the personalities are being highlighted by a variety of media, making the sport more marketable than before.
“It’s really interesting how personalities have, to some degree, driven that,” Fargas said. “They’re now being seen as household names. They’re being seen as celebrities. They’re being seen as not just a great player on the basketball court but look what she’s also done in the community.
“Their stories are being told and amplified on large platforms. So now people are gravitating to them, not just the player in a uniform, but as the person. That’s what’s happening. People fall in love with them as the person.”
The growth will likely only continue thanks to the new WNBA signed media rights deal. Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBCUniversal acquired the rights to the WNBA for 11 years for $2.2 billion.
“It’s just a great time to be a part of women’s sports right now,” Fargas said.
The Aces have long been at the forefront of providing the team with the items it needs to be successful, starting with its state-of-the-art practice facility. They also were one of the first teams to push for exclusive charter flights for the players and coaches – which is now a staple across the league.
“Sometimes, when you’re looking at starting something, you want to have a proof of concept,” Fargas said. “The proof is there. It’s there across the board. It’s not just about, ‘OK, is this a great financial decision?’ No, this is the right decision. … Like the ecosystem around sports now recognizes women’s importance in sports.”
Paul Delos Santos is the Las Vegas sports insider for Dice City Sports. Follow him on X at @PaulDelos_.
