ESPN networks break WNBA viewership records

Field Level Media|published: Thu 16th October, 11:12 2025

Jul 18, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu is interviewed by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe after winning the three-point contest during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Broadcasts of the WNBA regular season and postseason were the most-watched ever across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.

For 25 regular season games, WNBA action on ESPN networks averaged 1.3 million viewers, up 6% year-over-year. The numbers across 24 postseason games were up 5% with an average of 1.2 million viewers.

The 2025 WNBA postseason was the most-viewed since 1999 (1.3 million viewers).

ESPN said the figures were based on reports from the Nielsen Big Data + Panel.

The WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.5 million viewers over the four-game series, behind only 2024 for viewership. The first game averaged 1.9 million viewers to become the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 1 in 28 years.

ESPN's "WNBA Countdown" averaged 437,000 viewers, up 30% from last season, across 13 episodes.

--Field Level Media