Sold out arenas became the norm. Soaring television ratings helped expand the fan base. Clark, Reese, the presumptive league MVP A’ja Wilson and others continually chased record-breaking statistics. And routine conversations and social media posts spurred sometimes heated debates about everything from basketball to culture.

Former NCAA and current WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are among the most influential athletes on new prestigious list.

Though the injury takes Reese out of Rookie of the Year contention, she still set several rookie and WNBA records during her first season.