The WNBA is having its moment with attendance, viewership, merchandise sales and social media attention at an all-time high.
Led by established superstars Breanna Stweart, Sabrina Ionescu, A'Ja Wilson, and the turbo-charged hype surrounding rookie duo Caitlin Clark Angel Reese, the WNBA has welcomed a new legion of fans, making the league primetime viewing.
NBA 2K first introduced all 12 WNBA teams to the game in 2020 and this year marks the first time ever a WNBA star will grace the cover of the game, with Wilson — a two-time champion, two-time MVP, two-time Defensive Payer of the Year, and six-time All-Star making history for the women's game.
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“Being featured on the NBA 2K25 cover is a big moment for me and a testament to the ever-growing fandom of the WNBA,” Wilson said.
“Seeing more and more WNBA athletes scanned into NBA 2K25 to best capture the style and confidence of the league has been empowering, and I can’t wait for fans to experience it in-game.”
While the women's game continues to grow, so does its offering within NBA2K, with the latest edition of the game giving fans an enhanced gaming experience.
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This year's edition of NBA 2K offers games an enhanced WNBA experience with a host of new features, including 'Become the GOAT' in the Pursuit of Greatness story.
This mode sees players dropped into the Rookie of the Year race alongside Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, vying to eclipse the legends of the game, with detailed, visualized progress of their accomplishments along the way and how they stack up to the GOAT they're chasing.
"We've represented the amazing women that play in the W for years with covers and now every year [we do] whatever we can do in our annualized cycle to advance the game in our game," Ronnie 2K told The Sporting News at NBA 2K Community Day.
"'Become the GOAT' is a huge step, being able to play as them in the 3-on-3 experience, and there's other elements that we've introduced like press conferences, so we continue to evolve that game."
For the first time, WNBA players will feature in press conferences after key moments in games, like breaking records, accepting awards like Rookie of the Year and MVP etc, allowing them to control the narrative of their career.
Another key feature in the W online is the new outdoor court in a forest grove where players can join 3-on-3 multiplayer games, along with the Game Changers Mentorship, where contributing to weekly Community Goals can earn Player Boosts for MyPLAYER
Players can also take a contender who is not yet a Game Changer under their wing in a mentoring role. Players who guide their mentee through challenges will receive boosts to their Community Goal contributions.
Wilson headlines highest-rated WNBA players in NBA 2K25
Wilson's resume speaks for itself, already one of the most decorated WNBA players ever, adding a second Olympic gold medal to her trophy case over the summer.
The 28-year-old is the first-ever player to be given a 99 overall rating, the highest-rated WNBA player in NBA 2K history.
Joining her at the top of the WNBA ratings are Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas and Brittney Griner.
Rank | Player | 2K Rating | Team |
1. | A'ja Wilson | 99 | Las Vegas Aces |
2. | Breanna Stewart | 97 | New York Liberty |
T-3. | Napheesa Collier | 95 | Minnesota Lynx |
Alyssa Thomas | 95 | Connecticut Sun | |
5. | Brittney Griner | 94 | Phoenix Mercury |
"What a year for A'ja to be on the cover with the growth of the game and her being the best player in the WNBA," Ronnie 2K added.
"[Along with] all these young stars, Caitlin and Angel getting 90s with their ratings, it's an amazing time for that league and can't wait to continue to see it develop."
MORE: Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese ROY battle highlights WNBA 2nd half storylines
Meanwhile, the rivalry between Clark and Reese transfers over into the virtual world with both rookies given 90 overall ratings — the only two rookies to crack 90 in the game.
Rank | Player | 2K Rating | Team |
T-1. | Caitlin Clark | 90 | Indiana Fever |
Angel Reese | 90 | Chicago Sky | |
T-3. | Cameron Brink | 80 | Los Angeles Sparks |
Kamilla Cardoso | 80 | Chicago Sky | |
Rickea Jackson | 80 | Los Angeles Sparks |