WNBA delivers record-breaking 2024 season

– Most-watched WNBA regular season on ESPN platforms of all time –

– Set single-game attendance record and highest total attendance in 22 years –

– All-time records for digital consumption and goods sales –

NEW YORKSeptember 27, 2024 – The WNBA delivered its most-watched regular season in 24 years, finished with its highest attendance in 22 years and set records for digital consumption and merchandise sales in 2024.

Highlights from the league's 28 games^Th The regular season includes:

• VIEWER NUMBER: The WNBA attracted a record more than 54 million unique viewers across ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ION and NBA TV. The record-breaking 22 game broadcasts during the regular season averaged at least one million viewers. The season was watched for a record 136.29 million hours across all national networks. Other viewership highlights include:
  • With an average of 1.19 million viewers, this was the most-watched regular season ever on ESPN platforms, a 170% increase from last season. The 2024 season featured the seven most-watched WNBA games of all time on ESPN, the two most-watched WNBA games of all time on ABC (2.23 million, Seattle Storm at Indiana Fever on August 18; 1.71 million, Indiana at New York Liberty in May). 18) and the most-watched WNBA game ever on ESPN2 (2.12 million, Indiana on Connecticut Sun on May 14).
  • CBS Sports delivered the most-watched regular season ever, averaging 1.10 million viewers, an 86% increase from last year, as well as the most-streamed season ever on Paramount+. CBS had its five most-watched games ever, led by 2.25 million viewers for the Chicago Sky on June 16 in Indiana.
  • ION averaged 670,000 viewers – a 133% increase from last season – and had seven telecasts averaging at least 1 million viewers.
  • NBA TV has more than quadrupled its viewership since 2023 and recorded the 13 most-watched WNBA games of all time, led by the Las Vegas Aces at Indiana on Sept. 11 (678,000 viewers).
  • In addition to the 22 regular season games averaging at least 1 million viewers, ABC's presentation of the 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game drew a record 3.4 million viewers, an increase of +305% compared to last season.

• PARTICIPATION: The WNBA recorded its highest total attendance in 22 years (2,353,735), up 48% from last season. The league's 154 sellouts represented a 242% increase compared to last season (45). Below are other highlights of the attendance:
  • The WNBA averaged 9,807 fans per game, up 48% from last season (6,615 fans).
  • The Indiana vs. Washington Mystics game on September 19 at Capital One Arena set a WNBA single-game attendance record with 20,711 fans. It was one of three games to draw at least 20,000 fans this season, along with 20,366 for Indiana against Las Vegas on July 2 and 20,333 for Indiana against Washington on June 7.
  • The Fever's total home attendance of 340,715 fans was a single-season record for a WNBA team, surpassing the previous home attendance record of 250,565 set by New York in 16 games in 2001.
  • All 12 WNBA teams posted at least double-digit year-over-year attendance growth this season, led by Indiana (+319%), Los Angeles (+69%) and New York (+64%).
  • The 30 games of the Commissioner's Cup presented by Coinbase attracted an average of 9,377 fans, 42% more than last season.

• WERE: WNBA merchandise sales both online at WNBAStore.com and at the flagship New York City location increased 601% overall compared to 2023. Additionally, merchandise sales at Dick's Sporting Goods increased 233% compared to last season.

• ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA: The WNBA set a single-season record with nearly 2 billion video views across its social media platforms, more than four times last season's total (378 million).

• WNBA APP: Monthly active users on the WNBA app increased 252% compared to last season.

• WNBA LEAGUE PASS: WNBA League Pass, the league's defunct live game package, saw a 366% increase in subscriptions compared to last season.

• ALL STAR VOTING: The 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game drew a record nearly 10 million fan votes, an increase of +538% compared to 2023.

• INTERNATIONAL INTEREST: As the next generation of players from around the world play in the WNBA, the league is taking steps to increase game accessibility in different regions.
  • Opening night featured 34 international players from 19 countries outside the United States.
  • WNBA games were broadcast or streamed in 207 countries and territories.
  • New international distribution deals for the 2024 season included the United Kingdom (TNT Sports), Taiwan (Videoland), China (OPG), Brazil (YouTube) and the Philippines (TapDMV).
  • NORTH OF THE BORDER: In May, the WNBA awarded Toronto an expansion franchise to begin play in the 2026 season.
    • Viewership for the 2024 WNBA regular season in Canada increased 148% year-over-year.
    • The second annual WNBA Canada Game, held during the preseason on May 5 in Edmonton, AB, was sold out for the second consecutive year (WNBA Canada Game 2023 in Toronto). Viewership for Canada's second game increased 65% year-over-year in Canada.

• PLAYER MILESTONES: WNBA players delivered historic performances in the 2024 regular season. Among the highlights:
  • Aces center A'ja Wilson set WNBA single-season records for scoring average (26.9 ppg), total points (1,021) and total rebounds (451). She also became the first player to lead the league in total points, rebounds and blocks (98) in a season.
  • Atlanta Dream center Tina Charles became the WNBA's career leader in total rebounds (4,014) and double-doubles (194).
  • Charles (7,696 points) and Suns forward DeWanna Bonner (7,482) moved to second and fourth, respectively, on the WNBA's career points list.
  • Fever guard Caitlin Clark set WNBA records for most assists in both a season (337) and a game (19). She also recorded the first two triple-doubles by a rookie in league history and set rookie single-season records for points (769) and three-pointers made (122).
  • Sky forward Angel Reese averaged a WNBA record 13.1 rebounds per game and set another league record with 15 consecutive double-doubles.
  • With a league-leading three triple-doubles in the regular season, Suns forward Alyssa Thomas extended her WNBA career record to 11.
  • Liberty forward Breanna Stewart became the fastest player to reach 5,000 career points (242 games).
  • Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale set the WNBA single-game record with nine three-pointers.

# # #