WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was recently interviewed on the CBS Network series “Beyond Limits.” During the show, Engelbert shared her thoughts on the 2024 WNBA rookie class, particularly with the influence of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Engelbert called the rookie class “generational,” given the historic seasons that players like Clark and Reese have put together.

“Angel [Reese], you know, these consecutive double-doubles every night, and Caitlin [Clark] still putting up those logo threes while being double-triple-teamed… really, it’s just a generational class,” Engelbert said.

Reese secured the WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles by any player in the history of the game, notching 15 straight in the first half of the season. She surpassed WNBA legend Candace Parker for the most consecutive double-doubles, which was previously set at 12 straight. Reese is currently averaging 13.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Clark has shown her elite scoring ability while proving to be one of the best playmakers in the WNBA. She leads the league with 8.2 assists per game on the season while leading all rookies in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game.

Both rookies were part of the most-viewed game in the WNBA in 23 years. On June 23, Reese and the Chicago Sky defeated Clark and the Indiana Fever, 88-87. That game reached over 2.3 million viewers, marking the most-watched WNBA game on any network in over two decades.

Engelbert’s claim about the rookies has been supported by numbers throughout the season. Ticket sales, television viewership, and jersey sales have increased exponentially since the arrival of Clark and Reese.

The two young stars recently played in the WNBA All-Star game, which was one of the most viewed events the league has ever held. The game peaked at over 4 million viewers, just one season after it produced over 850,000 in its previous All-Star game.

It’s clear that both rookies have brought in generational numbers on and off the court, and Engelbert seems extremely appreciative of their impact on the league.