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2h ago

WNBA Finals Game 1 Draws 1.9 Million, Biggest Opener Since 1997

Players enter CBA talks pointing to surging audiences before the Oct. 31 deadline.

Oct 3, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans (11) gestures after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury during the second quarter of game one of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • ESPN’s telecast of Aces–Mercury Game 1 averaged 1.9 million viewers and peaked at 2.5 million, up 62% from last year and the largest Finals opener since 1997.
  • The audience ranks as the most-watched Game 1 since the Finals moved to a series format in 1998, trailing only the single-game 1997 championship.
  • Across the postseason, WNBA games are averaging about 1.2 million viewers, a 16% year-over-year increase according to ESPN.
  • WNBA Countdown averaged 626,000 viewers for Game 1, a 78% jump from 2024, reflecting broader interest in pregame coverage.
  • Nielsen’s 2025 measurement changes, including expanded out-of-home tracking and “Big Data + Panel,” aid comparisons yet do not fully explain the multi-year growth cited in ongoing CBA negotiations.