Taj Paxton Returns to the Director’s Chair for WNBA 2024: The Year That Changed Everything
There are moments when culture doesn’t just shift—it announces itself. Packed arenas. Sold-out jerseys. Social feeds exploding in real time. Women’s sports didn’t ask for permission in 2024; it took center stage. And five-time Emmy winner Taj Paxton was there to capture it.
Paxton returns as director for WNBA 2024: The Year That Changed Everything, a defining chapter within The Rise, the groundbreaking documentary series from Hello Sunshine. The first film premiered December 15, 2025, with additional installments set to roll out throughout 2026—each one chronicling the seismic rise of women’s professional sports.
“The significance of The Rise lies not just in chronicling events but in capturing a transformative moment within our cultural landscape,” Paxton shared. “When arenas are filled beyond capacity, and merchandise sales soar, it signifies more than popularity—it heralds a paradigm shift.”
A Season That Rewrote the Narrative
WNBA 2024 dives deep into a year that shattered expectations and records alike. From sell-out crowds to unprecedented merchandise and social engagement, women’s basketball didn’t just grow—it expanded the conversation. Paxton’s lens centers the human stories behind the headlines, weaving game-changing footage with intimate interviews that elevate the moment beyond the scoreboard.
Featured voices include Candace Parker—who also serves as an executive producer—alongside Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Terri Jackson, Jane McManus, Khristina Williams, and Monica McNutt—each adding context, candor, and clarity to a league in motion.
“The WNBA’s story isn’t just about triumphs on court,” Paxton noted. “It’s an emblematic reflection of societal shifts. Through authentic voices—including our own team—we’re capturing history as it unfolds.”
Collaboration That Fuels Change
Produced in partnership with Ally and If/Then Initiative, The Rise offers unprecedented access to how advocacy, media coverage, and cultural momentum are reshaping the business—and visibility—of women’s sports worldwide.
Paxton shares executive producer credits on WNBA 2024 with Patty Ivins Specht and Azon Juan Juaquin Cambron, with Melissa Chusid guiding the series’ influential voices. Specht also directed The New Moneyball, which premiered alongside the first film on December 15, 2025.
What’s Next on The Rise
The momentum doesn’t stop at basketball. Three additional films—The Inaugural Season of the PWHL, The Gold Medal Girls of X Games, and The Women of NASCAR—are slated to premiere on Peacock in 2026, expanding the series’ scope across leagues and lanes where women continue to redefine what’s possible.
Executive producers across all five documentaries include Reese Witherspoon, Sara Rea, Zoe Fairbourn, Sue Kinkead, Lyda Hill, Ty O’Neil, and Nicole Small, with Ashlyn Harris serving as consulting producer.
Snubb3d Take
This isn’t a highlight reel—it’s a historical record. With Taj Paxton at the helm, WNBA 2024: The Year That Changed Everything doesn’t just document success; it frames a future where women’s sports command the spotlight they’ve always deserved. And once you see it, there’s no going back.
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