In a remarkable display of viewership, the WNBA semifinals have outperformed the previous season’s finals, proving that the league continues to capture the attention of basketball fans nationwide. The first game of the semifinals, featuring the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, and the top-seeded New York Liberty, attracted 929,000 viewers on ABC. This impressive figure surpassed the total audience for all four broadcasts of the 2023 WNBA Finals, where the Aces claimed their second consecutive championship against the Liberty.
The excitement didn’t stop there, as the second semifinal matchup also drew significant attention. The Connecticut Sun’s Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Lynx garnered 654,000 viewers on ESPN. These numbers indicate a substantial increase compared to last year’s semifinal games, highlighting the growing popularity of the WNBA.
For context, the 2023 semifinals saw the Aces face off against the Dallas Wings, which attracted only 182,000 viewers on ESPN2, while the New York/Connecticut matchup managed to pull in 394,000 viewers on ESPN. In contrast, the Aces/Liberty Game 1 this year achieved more than five times the audience of the prior year’s Aces/Wings game, while the Sun/Lynx matchup saw a 65% increase in viewership compared to the previous evening window.
While these figures are impressive, they still fall short of the ratings garnered during the Sun’s first-round sweep against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, which reached 2.54 million viewers. This game marked the 10th most-watched telecast in WNBA history, showcasing the impact of star players like Clark on the league’s visibility.
The success of the Sunday games can be attributed to several factors, including the strategic use of both broadcast and cable networks in 2024. ABC, with its broader reach compared to cable channels, played a crucial role in attracting viewers, especially with a New York team involved. As the media landscape evolves, the combination of star power and strategic broadcasting continues to elevate the WNBA’s profile.
Expectations for a rematch between the Aces and Liberty in the finals were high at the start of the season. The presence of three MVP winners—A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones—along with several members of the gold-medal U.S. Olympic team competing in the semifinals adds to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the playoffs.
Connecticut, having started and ended Caitlin Clark’s historic rookie season in front of large national audiences, has established a more prominent national profile. As they pursue their first WNBA title, the Lynx, led by MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier, are looking to build a new dynasty in the league.
Despite the narrative focusing on Indiana’s Clark throughout the season, the overall viewership for the WNBA is on an upward trajectory, indicating a bright future for the league even in the absence of its standout rookie.
As the semifinals continue, fans are eagerly watching to see how the story unfolds, with each game contributing to the growing legacy of women’s basketball.
