The WNBA’s enlargement continues because the league, which kicked off its twenty eighth season on Might 14th, concluded Might with its highest-attended opening month in 26 years and its most-watched begin of the season. The league has video games on essentially the most networks ever: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION, and NBA TV.
Roughly 400,000 followers attended WNBA video games via the tip of Might. Greater than half of all WNBA video games had been sellouts, which is a 156% enhance from final yr.
The league additionally achieved important viewership progress amongst numerous audiences. Viewership amongst folks of colour surged by 60% year-over-year, with Black and Latino followers main the cost, displaying will increase of 67% and 96%, respectively. Moreover, tip-off week noticed a 124% enhance in viewers beneath 35 and a 139% rise in younger women tuning in.
The 2024 rookie class considerably impacted fan engagement from preseason via Might. Through the first week, 4 of the 5 most partaking moments on social media featured highlights from Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, Los Angeles Sparks’s Cameron Brink, or Las Vegas Aces’ Kate Martin. WNBA merchandise gross sales skyrocketed, with a 236% enhance year-over-year, and Clark, Reese, and Brink ranked among the many prime 5 in jersey gross sales throughout the first week of the season.
The expansion of numerous audiences has additionally led to deeper and extra frequent engagement throughout digital platforms. Month-to-month energetic customers on the WNBA App have elevated by 613% year-over-year, and League Move subscriptions greater than tripled within the first two weeks of the season, with the best common minutes watched in league historical past.
The league launched the next metrics:
- WNBA arenas had been stuffed to a 94% capability, up 17% from final yr.
- Throughout ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS, WNBA video games are averaging 1.32 million viewers, almost tripling final season’s common (462,000 viewers). Further particular person community highlights embody:
- ESPN2: The opening evening matchup that includes the Indiana Fever vs. the Connecticut Solar (Might 14) averaged 2.12 million viewers throughout ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+, peaking at 2.34 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA sport on Disney platforms ever.
- ABC: The Indiana Fever vs. the New York Liberty (Might 18) on ABC averaged 1.71 million viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA sport on ABC ever and the second-most-viewed sport throughout Disney networks ever (behind solely this yr’s Opening Night time matchup that includes the Indiana Fever vs. the Connecticut Solar on ESPN2).
- WNBA Countdown on ABC and ESPN2 has averaged 741,000 viewers, up +211% vs. final yr’s full season Countdown common throughout ABC/ESPN/ESPN2.
- ESPN: The Connecticut Solar vs. Indiana Fever (Might 20) averaged 1.56 million viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA sport on ESPN ever.
- CBS: Within the Community’s first sport of the season, the New York Liberty vs. the Minnesota Lynx (Might 25) averaged 704,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA sport on CBS ever.
- ION: ION, in its second yr airing WNBA video games, noticed its most-viewed WNBA sport ever when the Indiana Fever vs. the Los Angeles Sparks averaged 724,000 viewers on Might 24. ION’s common WNBA sport viewership has elevated by 51% households, evaluating Weeks 1-3 of the 2023 season to Weeks 1-3 of the 2024 season.
- NBA TV: The Los Angeles Sparks vs. the Indiana Fever (Might 28) averaged 356,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA sport on NBA TV ever.
- *Subsequently surpassed by the Fever at Liberty sport (June 2), which averaged 430,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed WNBA sport on NBA TV ever.
- Because the begin of the season, WNBAStore.com has already set the document for essentially the most single-season gross sales in retailer historical past, with general transactions up 756% in comparison with the identical time interval final yr.
- WNBA social channels garnered 157 million video views via the primary week of the season, essentially the most considered WNBA tip-off week on social media ever and up 380% vs. final yr.
- Might set an all-time excessive for WNBA League Move subscriptions with a 335% enhance vs. final season.
“What’s taking place now in ladies’s basketball is affirmation of what we’ve at all times identified: The demand is there, and girls’s sports activities is a precious funding,” stated Chief Progress Officer Colie Edison. “We’re inspired by rising engagement throughout all our verticals, particularly as we welcome new and numerous audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to expertise sustained progress as our league embraces this heightened momentum.”
