Overview

• Paige Bueckers was selected as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings, following a celebrated college career at UConn.
• The event averaged 1.25 million viewers, a 49% decrease from the 2024 draft featuring Caitlin Clark but still the second-highest viewership in WNBA Draft history.
• Critics and analysts are debating the impact of star power, with comparisons between Clark’s charisma and Bueckers’ potential to grow the league’s audience.
• ESPN’s methodology for viewership comparisons has drawn scrutiny, with some arguing that the anomalous 2024 metrics distort long-term growth trends.
• Despite the decline in ratings, the draft was the most-watched program of the night among key demographics, including adults under 35 and men under 50.