And the Las Vegas Aces, Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, New York Liberty, and Atlanta Dream all were on a decline. Well, either way, its a tough sell for a league that cant turn a profit and survives on handouts from the NBA. The Chicago Sky emerged victorious,winning 87-85 in overtime at their home court. Directly accessible data for 170 industries from 50 countries and over 1 million facts: Get quick analyses with our professional research service. WNBA NBA NBA G League NBA 2K League. It is the most-watched comedy debut on ABC in nearly four years. The four-game series averaged 548,000 viewers, according to ESPN. 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Furthermore, as part of the WNBA raising capital, they had outside advisors come with an analysis showing that their viewership is on par with the NHL, NASCAR, and MLS. WNBA games haven't averaged 8,000 fans per game since 2009, and the 2017 figure was down 28.9 percent from the league's all-time high attendance in 1998, which was the WNBA's second season. Access to this and all other statistics on 80,000 topics from, Show sources information Team Stats. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. According to Deadline.com, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics double-overtime game averaged 1.96 million viewers, topping out at an audience size of 2.87 million late in the game. Draft coverage peaked at about 463,000 viewers. Englebert reported the average viewership of games rose 68% this season, crediting that largely to a substantial increase in games on the ESPN Network as well as the league's debut on the CBS. You cant ask for anything better than to have a 15 percent increase (for the Finals) when the NBA Finals is down 49 percent, John Lewis of Paulsen Sports Media Watch said last October. 2), the Las Vegas Aces (No. Plus, we discuss some fun attendance facts that might surprise you, and what led to 69 million social media impressions for the league this year. The premiere episode of Not Dead Yet had about 7.6 million viewers and a 1.76 rating among the 18-49 demographic in the seven days after its premiere on across linear and digital platforms. The four-game Sky-Mercury WNBA Finals averaged 548,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, marking the largest audience for the event since the five-game Lynx-Sparks series in 2017 (559K). ESPN said on Thursday that the WNBA Finals averaged about 548,000 viewers per game, up 23% from last season and up 42% from 2019. The league started the 25thseason by introducing its new official game ball by Wilson Sporting Goods through a new multiyear global partnership. 2 seeded Chicago Sky and the reigning Finals MVP Kahleah Copper begin their defense of the WNBA title at home against the seventh seeded New York Liberty and All-Stars Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Howard on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. The WNBA reported a 51% increase in viewership over the regular season in 2020. In that year, the WNBA averaged 413,000 viewers. A paid subscription is required for full access. Profit from the additional features of your individual account. In 2021, viewership numbers dropped 12% to 331,000 average viewers but still yielded the second-largest viewership since the 2004 Draft (601,000 views). You can only download this statistic as a Premium user. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The NBAs average ticket price is variously reported at between $51 to $89; the WNBAs $17. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. All year, league executives were gratified that ESPN agreed to increase its investment in the league and air a record 37 games across its networks, about three times its typical WNBA slate. Much has happened since the NBA Board approved the concept of the WNBA. It was the first WNBA game post All-Star Game and Olympic break airing in the afternoon on ABC. By this date in 2019, 15 college football games averaged at least a 3.0 ratings. Overall, the 2014 playoffs averaged a 0.3 rating and 489,000 viewers on the ESPN networks, up from 0.2 and 272,000 in 2013. ET. (September 21, 2022). The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data (partially from exclusive partnerships). Because it's time., This is a BETA experience. It wasnt until 1984 that the Olympics created a marathon for women. The strong showing in 2021 made it the most-viewed postseason since 2014. The Orange WNBA Logo Hoodie was the best-selling item on The WNBA Store for the second consecutive season. A multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video made the WNBA the first womens professional sports league to be streamed on Prime Video, with Amazon receiving exclusive streaming rights to 16 WNBA games each season. Saturdays inaugural fixture on the streaming service saw the Atlanta Dream secure a thrilling 90-87 win over the New York Liberty in overtime. The NBA and WNBA have little in common, other than they play the same sport. ", SportsPro, Average TV viewers of the WNBA regular season from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236723/wnba-regular-season-viewers/ (last visited March 05, 2023), Average TV viewers of the WNBA regular season from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s) [Graph], SportsPro, September 21, 2022. The sixth-seeded Chicago Sky defeated the seventh-seeded Dallas Wings, 81-64, and the fifth-seeded Phoenix Mercury edged the eighth-seeded New York Liberty, 83-82, to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Thats where the WNBA finds itself in its search for an identity (and higher pay) on the American sports scene. NBA games average 2 million TV viewers per game;WNBA games averaged 246,000 viewers during the 2019 regular season, according to Sports Media Watch (well ignore the 2020 season impacted by the pandemic). Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Game 2 was the most watched Game 2 since 2003, peaking with 1 million viewers. The 2014 WNBA finals averaged 659,000 viewers across the ESPN channels, up 91% from the 2013 finals between the Minnesota Lynx and the Atlanta Dream which averaged 345,000. Wedneday, March 1st In today's episode we talk about: Discord coming soon! Use Ask Statista Research Service, The source phrased the question as, "In general, would you describe yourself as an avid fan, a casual fan or not a fan of each of the following? The first and second rounds are single-elimination games. And thats a 7% improvement. James Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, WNBA Free Agency Special Set for ESPN2 on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The Women's National Basketball Association concluded its 25th anniversary season with another positive sign for viewership for its championship series. As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic. Yet their media rights fees are five-to-15 times the WNBAs. Recently, Draymond Green, one of those highly paid male players, poured a little gas on the fire by offering his opinions on the subject (in short, the women shouldnt complain). Accessed March 05, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236723/wnba-regular-season-viewers/, SportsPro. The NBA has 30 teams, the WNBA 12. Dont just show up for the big moments because WNBA fans and their athletes know this. ", Morning Consult, Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1108312/women-national-basketball-association-interest-gender/ (last visited March 05, 2023), Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender [Graph], Morning Consult, May 26, 2022. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set The WNBA is an American professional women's basketball league established in 1996 and owned by the NBA. Under the CBA, base salaries increase to $130,000 and the leagues elite players can earn upward of $500,000. If you buy something from a link on our site, Queen Ballers Club may earn a commission. It hasnt helped that womens sports came late to the game. The WNBA reached several milestones in its landmark season. The showdown between UConn and Baylor in the Elite Eight round was the most-watched NCAA Tournament game in 10 years, excluding Final Four matchups. ET, followed by the eighth seeded Phoenix Mercury and the teams leading rebounder Brianna Turner taking on the No. And though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics did not [] . Please do not hesitate to contact me. You can only download this statistic as a Premium user. Considering the circumstances, the WNBA will likely come away from its 2020 season content with the way it was able to connect with fans, especially from its Bubble in south Florida. WNBA DELIVERS MOST-WATCHED REGULAR SEASON SINCE 2008 As part of the agreement, the league established a new platform, WNBA Changemakers, to attract corporate investment in the league. Teams averaged more made three-point field goals (7.7) than in any prior season propelling teams to average 82.3 points per game, the third-highest figure in league history. The highest-rated game in the WNBA's 25th anniversary season: an Aug. 15 contest between the Sky and Storm. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. The leagues fixtures were averaging 357,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 after the first five games of the current campaign, which is the WNBAs 25th season. That game averaged 755,000 viewers on ABC. All 17. More people. The 2019 NBA Finals had 27% fewer viewers this year, compared to last year (17.85M to 10.4M). Would you be willing to send a $5 tip to our Venmo tip jar because it helps support our reporting? Lets first take a look at the last two WNBA Drafts. Because of ESPNs commitment to the league and brands increasing desire to get involved with the leagues star players, online engagement with the WNBA continued to grow. In the leagues previous 25 seasons, a total of just nine regular-season triple-doubles had been recorded with no more than one in a given season. And the new-age distributed sports network and brand, Overtime, reported that in 2021, OT WBB, their TikTok handle focused on womens basketball was in the top 25 of all sports media accounts on TikTok. July's All-Star Game averaged 734,000 viewers, a 53% increase.. 92-59 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals to win the Championship at Feld Entertainment Center on October 06, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. Meanwhile, across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok,the WNBA set records for social media engagement with 135 million video views and 14.5 million actions. Enjoying SportsPro content? This year the WNBA celebrated its 25th season and with that came exponential viewership growth across multiple categories on ESPN networks. IN HISTORIC 25TH SEASON, League Sets Records for Merchandise Sales Online and Social Media Engagement . A bigger cut for the players means higher subsidies from their benefactor. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images). The WNBA also welcomed Google as its newest WNBA Changemaker, joining AT&T, Deloitte and Nike and the tech company sponsored 25 games on ESPN as part of the partnership. The 2023 World Baseball Classic, the first since 2017, will get underway on Tuesday, March 7. ), explains: Im tired of people thinking that (we) players are asking for the same type of money as NBA players we are asking for the same percentage of revenue shared within our CBA. Early metrics still showed spikes in WNBA viewership, with Game 1 racking up an average of 555,000 viewers for the most-viewed Finals' opener in five years. "It's so interesting, . According to The Athletic, the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game peaked at 768,000 viewers. Morning Consult. WNBA players want what NBA players spent decades trying to obtain. statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. In particular, the deciding Game 3 of the Finals fit perfectly the formula that Lewis has observed tends to serve up the best ratings for the league. ESPN is making it easy to watch the Draft, Bria Felicien, the creator of The Black Sportswoman, said. Use Ask Statista Research Service. New York Liberty (No. The WNBA noted its viewership is up 51% when compared to the 2020 regular season. Sue Bird(No. News Archive; Media Central; Game Notes; 2022-23 Dream Overseas Updates; 2023 Schedule Release; Team Store. Register in seconds and access exclusive features. 3),Aja Wilson(No. Later in the season, the league also delivered its most-watched regular-season game since 2012, with ABC averaging 755,000 viewers for a matchup between the Seattle Storm and Chicago Sky on Aug. 15. The womens league now has a commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. That is a 49% increase compared to 2020 and 24% increase to 2019. Amidst an unprecedented season in the NBA . Most Super Bowl wins by NFL team 1967-2023, Average ticket price in the NFL by team 2021, FIFA World Ranking: top male soccer teams 2022, Athletic footwear global market share by company 2015, Health & Fitness Clubs - Statistics & Facts, Sporting goods industry in the U.S. - statistics & facts, Research expert covering sports and video gaming, Profit from additional features with an Employee Account. Register in seconds and access exclusive features. [Online]. If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again. It was the most watched Finals series since 2017. According to ESPN, the 2021 WNBA Finals were the most-viewed since 2017, with an average of 548,000 viewers across ESPN networks and ABC. The BarDown podcast will investigate, uncover and explore long-form stories at the intersection of sports . Several college stars embarked on their WNBA journey today as all 12 teams officially opened training camp. But not womens basketball college or pro (according to the NCAA, the average attendance for college basketball for the 2018-19 season was 1,625 for Division I women and 5,650 for Division I men). A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox. ", Regular season attendance WNBA games 2022. The Christmas Day lineup netted a 10% increase in viewership, with the Dallas Mavericks and Lakers contest averaging 7.01 million viewers. The NBA's average ticket price is variously reported at between $51 to $89; the WNBA's $17. "Average Tv Viewers of The Wnba Regular Season from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s). 2023 Players Check out our Player Season Finder to search through the entire history of WNBA player stats using custom criteria. WNBA; Wrestling; XFL; More Sports . In, SportsPro. There was just more interest because everything has been more available, starting with the college games. The WNBA also welcomed Google as its newest WNBA Changemaker, joining AT&T, Deloitte and Nike. WNBA fans are between 2 to 6.6 times more likely than an average sports fan to be interested in politics and especially womens rights, said Niky Scott, a customer success manager at Zoomph. Yesterday was a historic day for the @WNBA @nikebasketball released 3new designs for each team and the reveal ERUPTED on social media There were over 17K posts, 646K engagements, and 69 MILLION impressions about the drop Which one is your fave?#WNBA pic.twitter.com/kmj2uNzu0j. (May 26, 2022). The WNBA Playoffs will feature a maximum of 27 games, all available across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, the ESPN App and NBA TV. The WNBA's Covid-disrupted 2020 regular season averaged 205,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. Terrell Buckley, a 14-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, knows a thing or two about work ethic and during an XFL game on Sunday, he blasted his team for their performance. Show publisher information Today's top WNBA players can earn upwards of $500,000, courtesy of last year's landmark collective bargaining agreement, which guaranteed new maternity benefits and better travel conditions. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2021 - The WNBA capped off its historic 25 th regular season by delivering its most-watched season since 2008 for its television partners - ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 - with. Interest in womens basketball is on the rise. . Statistics; Cookie statement . We've been waiting for this kind of recognition for so many years. 2 Las Vegas Aces earned a double bye into the WNBA Semifinals (third round). Super Bowl averages 113 million viewers, 3rd-most watched in history The Kansas City Chiefs' 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl LVII is on pace to become the third most-watched [] The NBA is 75 years old, the WNBA 25. However, the shrinking interest is more than a concern. The drop of the new jerseys yielded over 69 million impressions on drop day. We made the roster requirements . Be an ally, be inclusive and be consistent when reporting or putting quality content out there about the WNBA. August 17, 2022, League Sets Social, Digital and Merchandising Records , In Their Final Seasons, Sylvia Fowles First Player to Record 4,000 Rebounds in a Career; Sue Bird Records 1,000 Three-Pointers Made , The 2022 WNBA Playoffs Presented by Google Tips Off Wednesday, Aug. 17. Baseball viewership statistics were down 20% from the 2014-15 season. 2),Diana Taurasi(No. In addition, the league teamed up with Dapper Labs, the company behind NBA Top Shot and the Flow blockchain, to launch WNBA Moments on Top Shot, giving fans the ability to own dynamic in-game moments from WNBA players and legends. Chart. The 2021 WNBA Finals on ESPN networks and ABC - Chicago Sky victory over the Phoenix Mercury - averaged 548,000 viewers across four games, a 23 percent increase from 2020 (447,000 average viewers . A hockey podcast that doesn't talk about last night's scores. That year, the minimum regular season attendance was on a Wednesday, with, The Miami Sols best highest attended regular season game was July 17, 2002 against the Sacramento Monarchs, with. Please do not hesitate to contact me. The league also set new marks for engagements across social media, digital and merchandise, as well as experienced subscription growth for WNBA League Pass. The 2021 WNBA regular season averaged 306,000 viewers, up 49 percent compared to 2020 and 24 percent to 2019, ESPN announced Thursday. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1108312/women-national-basketball-association-interest-gender/, Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender, Available to download in PNG, PDF, XLS format, Most popular women's sports leagues in North America June 2021, Share of African Americans in pro sports in North America in 2022, by sport, NBA & WNBA annual salaries as share of league revenue in 2020, Public interest in WNBA in the U.S. 2022, by gender, Public interest in WNBA in the U.S. 2022, by age, WNBA average regular season attendance 1997-2022, Attendance at the WNBA All-Star Game 1999-2022, Average player salary in the WNBA by team 2019, Women's National Basketball Association all-time assists leaders 1997-2022, Women's National Basketball Association all-time rebound leaders 2022, Public interest in WNBA in the U.S. 2022, by ethnicity, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of ALBA BERLIN 2015-2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg 2015-20, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: average match attendance of FC Bayern Mnchen 2015-20, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of Telekom Baskets Bonn 2015-2020, Germany Bundesliga: average match attendance of EWE Baskets Oldenburg 2015-20, Germany: average match attendance of the Basketball Bundesliga in 2020, by team, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of EWE Baskets Oldenburg 2015-20, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: average match attendance of Fraport Skyliners 2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of GIESSEN 46 2016-2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: average match attendance of ALBA BERLIN 2015-2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: average match attendance of Telekom Baskets Bonn 2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: average match attendance of BG Gttingen 2015-2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: average match attendance of Brose Bamberg 2015-2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of FC Bayern Mnchen 2015-2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of BG Gttingen 2015-2020, Professional basketball fan numbers in Japan 2017-2022, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of ratiopharm ulm 2015-2020, Germany Basketball Bundesliga: aggregate attendance of Brose Bamberg 2015-2020, Find your information in our database containing over 20,000 reports. Also viewership for the seasons opening weekend rose 325% in Canada. Sky forward Candace Parker finished the game with 16 points and team-high 13 rebounds. Game 1 (Oct. 10, ABC) was the most-viewed opening game of the WNBA Finals since 2017, registering 456,000 viewers and peaking with 547,000. Sky guard Kahleah Copper won the 2021 Finals MVP after averaging 17 points and 5.5 rebounds in the series. You need a Statista Account for unlimited access. 2022 WNBA All-Stars Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, Candace Parker, A . WNBA games averaged 321,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and CBS during the regular season, up 51% from last year and the league's most-watched season in 13 years. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. How do you get that bias out of that valuation model? The league headed into the 26th season by announcing its $75 million capital raise to fuel investment in the long-term transformation of the league. You need a Statista Account for unlimited access. Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites. I was beginning to question how the Las Vegas Aces could even afford the roster they currently have: 2022 All-WNBA First-Team and WNBA All-Star MVP Kelsey Plum, 2022 WNBA Champion and Finals MVP Chelsea Gray, 2020/2022 WNBA MVP and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year A'ja Wilson and, oh yeah, now Candace Parker, too. We want to hear from you. The NBAs average attendance is 17,760, the WNBAs 6,535. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury mostly held steady. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. This may not be a world title match like some viewers hoped, but Cody Rhodes seems destined to topple The Tribal Chief. According to the WNBA, this is the most watched season since 2008. Business Solutions including all features. WNBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm averaged 403,000 viewers on ESPN, up 20 percent over last year, making it the most watched WNBA Draft since 2004. . To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set It fell by 35% in the key 18-48 demographic. The WNBAs problem is simple: It doesnt generate the interest or the revenue to support a pay structure anywhere close to what the mens game can offer. TheSeattle Stormled the league in team merchandise sold. The showdown between UConn and Baylor in the Elite Eight round was themost-watched NCAA Tournament game in 10 years, excluding Final Four matchups, reported Forbes. Currently, you are using a shared account. In addition to ESPN, this years WNBA games are being broadcast on Amazon Prime Video for the first time. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? The NBA watched the NFL capture an eleven-year deal worth more than $100 billion deal last summer. Further proof of concept was evident in the recent WNBA and Nike launch of three new uniforms for each of the 12 teams in the league. In addition, DICKS Sporting Goods became the largest national retailer for WNBA merchandise. Her Oregon teammates Satou Sabally (second overall to Dallas Wings) and Ruthy Hebard (eighth overall to Chicago Sky) also went in the first round. Our data would show we have about 30 million fans who interact with WNBA content in any given year. You may opt-out by. Connecticut's Diana Taurasi, left, is presented with a Phoenix Mercury jersey by WNBA President Val [+] Ackerman, right, after the Mercury chose her as the No. No, the NBA won't get axed. 3), the Phoenix Mercury (No. Bill Laimbeer, a four-time NBA All-Star, was known as one of the Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys" when they won NBA championships in 1989 . U.S. Bank joined the leagues growing lineup of WNBA Changemakers, which include AT&T, Deloitte, Nike, and Google. And average league-wide attendance tends to be heaviest in August each year. Each of Wilson, Stewart and Bird generated more than $600,000 in social value this season, in large part because they were some of the most active athletes on the platform when it came to sharing content from other brands and personalities. Game 3 (Oct.15, ESPN2) notched 524,000 viewers and peaked at 591,000, making it the most-viewed non-title-clinching Game 3 since the 2007 WNBA Finals. And the 2019 finals featuring the Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics averaged 386,000 viewers and lasted five games. (But) there will be more opportunities for that coming up next season.. Women's basketball has notched yet another viewership milestone this time at the pro level. That parts crazy to me. The Olympics didnt allow women to run an event longer than 800 meters until the 1972 Games, when the 1,500-meter run was added to the program; meanwhile, the men were also contesting longer distances 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and the marathon. 5) followed. That likely gives the WNBA a roadmap forward and helps create a proof of concept for a league that is engaged politically and socially while remaining popular among sports fans. Last year, Sabrina Ionescu went first to New York. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. The league started the 25th season by introducing its new official game ball by Wilson Sporting Goods through a new multiyear global partnership. The playoffs were the most-watched since 2014. [Online]. Official Release TV viewership will be essential for Silver's league as it returns to a standard 82-game format. This will also be the first time since 2015 the tournament has been played outside Indianapolis, making its inaugural appearance in Minneapolis at the Target Center, home of the four-time WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx and the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. And I think thats definitely achievable. she continued. "Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender." She listed a few more stats that she said she loved, including a record 83.1 points per game and a 30% increase in cross-platform action for social media posts. In terms of how team attendance was trending prior to the pandemic, the Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, and Los Angeles Sparks had regular season attendance averages that were trending up over the previous three years (2017, 2018, 2019).