The 2024 WNBA season is set to be one of the best ever. Now it's playoff time.

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson has had one of the most dominant seasons in league history, becoming the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a full season.

Las Vegas Aces vs Seattle Storm
A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces dribbles against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on September 17. Steph

When interviewed on CNBC's "Power Lunch" on September 9, WNBA Queen Cathy Engelbert was asked about the issue of racial and homophobic bullying from fans of various players and gave an unsympathetic, corporate-speak answer. Her response hurt both players and fans by failing to do enough to condemn the bullying or defend the league’s players.

And to be clear, they care for reasons other than the appeal of talented rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

While she did not fully address the issue of the health and safety of WNBA players and later apologized for not doing so, there’s no denying the truth in what Engelbert said in the interview: “There’s no longer apathy,” she said of the WNBA. “People care.”

And to be clear, they care for reasons other than the appeal of talented rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who have been the subject of so many headlines this WNBA season. This season is not just about the future of the league, but also about its fascinating present and iconic past. And the WNBA playoffs, which begin Sunday, will make that clear.

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson has had one of the most dominant seasons in league history, becoming the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a full season and posting career-best numbers, averaging 26.9 points per game, 11.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.8 steals and 2.3 assists. This season could be the last we see of Diana Taurasi, the league’s all-time leading scorer.

The New York Liberty, the only original team without a title, are still looking for one. The Connecticut Sun, who have been to the WNBA Finals twice in the last five seasons, are also looking for their first title. The Minnesota Lynx are a team few would have expected to have a chance to compete for the WNBA championship, and they will start the playoffs with the No. 2 overall seed. And despite a lack of performance throughout the season and forcing Wilson to carry a much heavier load, the Las Vegas Aces enter the playoffs hoping to win their third straight title.

To Engelbert’s point about the lack of apathy, this season, six teams averaged more than 10,000 spectators per game, something that hasn’t happened since the league’s second season in 1998. ESPN said the 2024 WNBA regular season was the most watched on its channels, including ESPN2 and ABC, since games were broadcast during the league’s founding in 1997. The ION Network, which will begin airing WNBA regular season games in 2023, said the league doubled its viewership on the network this season, drawing a total of 23.72 million viewers.

Engelbert also announced two new expansion clubs for the WNBA, one in Toronto and one in Portland, Oregon. The ownership group that will oversee the Portland club paid a $125 million fee for the club. Compare that to the $10-14 million Joe and Clara Wu Tsai spent in 2019 to buy the New York Liberty, a WNBA franchise. Portland’s ownership couple Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage spent about 8-10 times that amount.

In addition to determining who will win the 2024 WNBA championship, there’s plenty to look forward to before the playoffs end. Will Wilson, likely to win her third MVP award, get the recognition of all the members of the press who vote for the award? The only other time that’s happened was during the league’s inaugural season in 1997, when the award went to Cynthia Cooper-Dyke.

Is this the end for the 42-year-old Taurasi? The Phoenix Mercury, with social media posts headlined “If This Is the End,” encourage us to think so, even as Taurasi says, “I don’t know.” “The last few weeks have been a little stressful for me,” she said. “I don’t want to make any decisions based on emotion or haste. I know the end is near. When it’s going to be, I don’t know.”

On Thursday afternoon, the team posted a photo of the free T-shirts fans received at the Mercury’s final home game of the regular season. The front features a silhouette of Taurasi with text calling her a “great person,” and the back is a lengthy letter to the WNBA legend thanking her for 20 stellar seasons in the WNBA. Taurasi’s family, friends and former coaches were in attendance Sunday night to see her honored by her home fans, perhaps