A 30th season and an $850m franchise: is the WNBA’s rocketing growth sustainable?

Women’s sport is in its high-growth phase. With surging salaries and new – or even revived – teams, the league has plenty to reflect on and to look forward to

Opening night typically pulses with anticipation rather than gushes with nostalgia, but the New York Liberty wore a “court origins” uniform that alludes to their history as one of the WNBA’s eight founding members when they hosted the Connecticut Sun on Friday.

Protracted and pugnacious negotiations between the players’ union and the league threatened to delay or even wreck the new season. But an accord that hands the players significant pay rises means the league has much to look forward to, as well as plenty to reflect on, as it celebrates 30 years.