In a stunning turn of events, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has experienced an unprecedented surge in viewership during the 2024 regular season. With games averaging 1.2 million viewers, a massive leap from last year's 440,000, the league has shattered all expectations and set new records, according to recent announcements by ESPN.

ESPN Networks, including ABC, reported that the WNBA regular season was its most-watched ever, with an astounding average viewership of 1.2 million. This marks a monumental increase in audience numbers compared to the previous year. Furthermore, an incredible 22 regular-season games drew over 1 million viewers, a feat not seen since 2008. Including the WNBA All-Star Game and the WNBA Draft, a total of 24 programming events in 2024 surpassed the 1 million viewer mark.

The WNBA All-Star Game, broadcasted on ABC, proved to be a ratings powerhouse, attracting an average of 3.44 million viewers. This astonishing figure crushed the previous audience record set in 2003. Additionally, the WNBA Draft, featuring talented prospects such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink, recorded record-breaking viewership of 2.446 million, marking a 307 percent increase from the previous year.

Notably, seven games throughout the season aired on ION and garnered over 1 million viewers. A recent game between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces drew an average of 1.2 million viewers, demonstrating the immense popularity and growing fanbase of the WNBA. Furthermore, the Sept. 11 game between the Fever and Aces became the most-watched WNBA game ever on NBA TV, attracting a viewership of 678,000. This shattered the previous high set earlier in 2024 during a Fever-Wings game on Labor Day weekend, which drew 652,000 viewers.

Richard Deitsch, a renowned sports journalist, highlighted the significance of the WNBA's viewership success and discussed various media-centric storylines ahead of the much-anticipated postseason. One standout player, Caitlin Clark, has been a true game-changer in terms of viewership numbers. ESPN/ABC programming executives are leveraging her popularity and treating the Indiana Fever as a marquee attraction, dedicating high-profile broadcast windows and increasing social media coverage for their games.

Deitsch and two women's basketball experts, Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman, engaged in a conversation about the upcoming postseason and the media's role in promoting the WNBA. Speculations arose regarding the potential impact of the NFL schedule on viewership during the playoffs as the Fever, with their fervent following, clash with football broadcasts.

Amidst these discussions, the positive response to ESPN's WNBA Countdown, a national pregame show, was highlighted. With an average viewership of 503,000 during the regular season, the show proved to be a hit, surpassing last year's numbers significantly. Deitsch proposed advocating for a daily studio show within the ESPN network for the 2025 WNBA season to further boost coverage and discussions surrounding the league.

Merchant supported the idea, emphasizing the need for increased consistency in WNBA programming across major media partners. She also stressed the importance of addressing viewer concerns regarding staggered start times and increased preseason coverage to showcase top rookies.

The conversation concluded with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries as the 13th team in the league, sparking interest in how this new franchise will impact viewership. Despite their lack of star power, the Valkyries have already garnered significant support, surpassing 17,000 season-ticket deposits, making history as the first professional women's sports team to achieve this milestone.

As the WNBA gears up for an exciting postseason, anticipation is building for high viewership in the finals. The most coveted matchup, likely to draw the highest number of viewers, would involve the Indiana Fever, given their passionate fan base and potential clash with the two-time defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. However, an enticing matchup in the absence of the Fever would be the Liberty-Lynx series, featuring exciting gameplay and fierce competition.

The 2024 WNBA season has truly been a groundbreaking year for the league, with record-breaking viewership and an unprecedented level of interest. As the postseason begins with nationally televised games, fans and media partners alike eagerly await the thrilling matchups and the potential for even greater viewership figures in the coming weeks.