When the future is bright and growth is certain, everyone wants to be part of it. Sadly, very few remember the early struggles and hard work put into forming the foundation of the growth ahead. While the Dallas Mavericks’ CEO currently credits Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark with the rise of the WNBA, former player and legend Cheryl Miller has other thoughts.
In a recent episode of the “Come and Talk 2 me” podcast, the former USC player claimed that her college team is responsible for the current growth of the WNBA. She even compared her team to the ‘showtime’ Lakers that revolutionized the NBA landscape.
Cheryl Miller Talks About ‘USC’s Showtime Era
The 80s era for basketball was the best time, and it set a stepping stone for the growth of the NBA. Whether it was the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson rivalry, the Lakers vs. Celtics clashes, or simply ‘the showtime’ Lakers’ gameplay, everyone was drawn to the sport, contributing massively to its popularity.
While the change was happening in the men’s basketball, as per the former WNBA coach Miller, the women’s wing also experienced a similar influx of fans, due to her USC team. In the podcast, she claimed that it began the rise of women’s basketball’s popularity, which is now the biggest success for the WNBA.
The WNBA broke its own attendance record in the 2025 season despite the absence of multiple star players for multiple games. This is a massive success story for the league, which is looking for expansion across the country. Miller credits her college team, which, according to her, was ‘Lakers’ baby sisters’, with such a rise.
“You guys know it’s exposure. So, once that exposure started… In ’84 we kind of went at everybody’s appetite. In the city we were known, we were like the Lakers, we were the Lakers’ baby sisters. We were run-and-gun. We were showtime. So, that introduced it, then you had Sheryl Swoopes, and then you had the ’96 Olympics. That’s when it really blew up. We had two professional leagues. Once they merged, that’s when things started,” Miller Said in the podcast.
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
Miller herself enjoyed tremendous success with the USC team, winning two NCAA titles and three consecutive Naismith Player of the Year awards.
Cheryl Miller Was Part Of The WNBA’s Early Days
Even though Miller was 33 at the time of the WNBA’s inaugural season, she was part of the initial phases of the league as head coach and general manager of the Phoenix Mercury team. The eight-team league played a limited number of games, handing the talented forward limited wins in terms of numbers.
Yet she retired with a 70-52 record with the Mercury team and reached the finals once in her coaching career. Very recently, Miller even coached in the 2024 WNBA All-Star game. She was the head coach of the Team WNBA, coaching players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Arike Ogunbowale, who set the All-Star game scoring record at the time.
Under the 61-year-old star’s guidance, Team WNBA defeated Team USA, which was preparing for the Paris Olympic Games.