Trae Young talks about the evolution of WNBA: "20 years from now, there are going to be a few players that play like Caitlin Clark"

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Trae Young talks about the evolution of WNBA: "20 years from now, there are going to be a few players that play like Caitlin Clark" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
After toiling in relative obscurity over the last couple of decades, the WNBA has entered a new era of popularity and recognition led by Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Sabrina Ionescu and Paige Bueckers.
The evolution of women's basketball has paved the way for a more entertaining style of play. Whether it's Clark shooting 3-pointers from near halfcourt or Reese dominating the glass or Paige asserting her dominance in her first season as a pro, the WNBA is now attracting more attention than ever before and influencing a new generation of young athletes.
According to Atlanta Hawks All-Star Trae Young, this is a welcome development that will continue to drive women's basketball to new heights.
Better versions of today's players in the future
Basketball is a sport that continues to evolve. As players benefit from improved training methods and advanced technology, it won't be long before pundits and fans see even better versions of today's players.
"It's just like every other sport. The evolution in everything is going to continue to get better," Young said on the "From The Point Podcast." "I mean, the players now are watching Caitlin and seeing what they're doing and want to just add that to their game and maybe add a little bit of spice, you know what I'm saying?"
Ever since she arrived last year, Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, has seized control of the mythical title of face of the league. A deadly long-distance shooter who has incredible court vision and a ferocious competitive drive, she has quickly become a fan favorite. As her popularity continues to grow, so does her influence on the next generation.
"Twenty years from now, there's going to be a few — you know what I'm saying — players that play like Caitlin just because of what she's done and the impact she's had on little kids and little girls around the world," Young said.Same league, different feel
One veteran broadcaster who witnessed the WNBA's birth in 1996 is Mike Breen. He shared that while the league had bona fide women's hoop superstars like Cynthia Cooper, Rebecca Lobo and Sheryl Swoopes, the skill level that players possess these days is much more advanced than back in the day.
"Back in '96, compared to now, the skill level is almost like two different sports," Breen noted. "Back then, the players were good. They were fundamentally sound, but there weren't a lot of good shooters. Now everybody can shoot; everybody can handle. They've got range. They've got flair to their game."
Young expressed his enthusiasm for witnessing the sport's growth and evolution. At just 26, he acknowledges that he has plenty of time before earning the status of a veteran. Nevertheless, he pledged his unwavering support for basketball's continued development, both in the NBA and WNBA.
"It's always going to get better," Young shared. "And I'm not going to be one of them old heads when I'm done playing, hating on the young guys that are, I mean, getting better or getting more love for certain things that, I mean, we helped kind of build, you know what I'm saying? And they've learned from us and just added a little bit of new stuff."
"So I'm not going to be one of those guys, but I definitely, I feel like the women's game is always going to grow because of that reason," he concluded.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.