The WNBA's opening weekend, featuring the Wings-Fever game, saw a slight dip in viewership compared to the previous year, but still managed to attract a significant audience. The game, which showcased the past three top picks, including the highly anticipated showdown between Clark and Reese, averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.49 million viewers on ABC. This marks the league's fourth-largest audience since 2000, despite the absence of out-of-home viewing estimates in historical comparisons. The Wings' victory, however, was the most-watched sporting event of the weekend outside of the NBA Playoffs and the PGA Tour. The second half of the doubleheader, a Mercury-Aces rematch, averaged 1.2 million viewers, down from last year's Aces-Liberty game. The overall doubleheader averaged 1.85 million, a slight increase from the previous year's first ABC doubleheader. These numbers are in line with the recent decline in NCAA women's basketball tournament viewership during the early rounds, but still remain on the higher end historically.
ION's Opening Night doubleheader, which featured the Sun-Liberty and Toronto Tempo's inaugural game, averaged 364,000 viewers, a 41% decrease from last year. The early window, with the Lynx-Wings game, saw a 35% drop in viewership. The late window, featuring the Valkyries-Storm game, averaged 352,000 viewers, a 39% decline from the previous year's Sparks-Valkyries game. The league's new broadcast partners, USA Network, averaged 529,000 viewers for the Aces-Sparks game on Sunday afternoon, with figures not yet available for the Wednesday doubleheader. The absence of nationally televised games on equivalent dates last year is notable.
The WNBA's opening weekend highlights the league's continued growth and the increasing interest in women's sports. While there was a slight dip in viewership, the overall numbers remain strong, and the league continues to attract a dedicated audience. The inclusion of new broadcast partners and the league's focus on showcasing top talent, such as Clark and Reese, contribute to the WNBA's success and its ability to engage fans. As the season progresses, the league will look to build on these positive trends and further solidify its place in the sports landscape.
