Record WNBA Viewership
Record-Breaking WNBA Playoff Audiences and Historic Upsets Highlight Exciting Postseason
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The Liberty won their two games against Minnesota by 16 points apiece. In the clinching 87-71 victory, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart each scored 21 points.
2
The WNBA semifinals use a best-of-five format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 2 and, if needed, Game 5. Teams are not reseeded after the first round.
3
In Game 1, A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 38 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell combined to go 10-for-33 from the field in the Aces’ 102-85 win.
4
The record-setting ABC playoff audience peaked at 2.6 million viewers and was more than double the 951,000 who watched the comparable ABC playoff game the previous year. The broadcast competed with NFL games and the final day of the Presidents Cup.
The Indiana Fever forced a decisive Game 3 against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces after a dominant 99-89 playoff victory WRTV, but the series opener drew massive attention on ABC. The Fever-Aces matchup averaged 2.1 million viewers, setting an ABC record for a WNBA playoff game WISHTV. The peak audience hit 2.6 million — more than double the 951,000 who watched the comparable ABC playoff game a year earlier WISHTV.
Elsewhere in the playoffs, the New York Liberty made history by becoming the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed, eliminating the Minnesota Lynx and advancing to the semifinals WISHTV. The Liberty won both games by 16 points, including an 87-71 clincher where Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart each scored 21 points WISHTV.
A'ja Wilson Dominates as Aces Win Game One
The Las Vegas Aces took Game 1 with a 102-85 victory behind a dominant performance from A'ja Wilson WRTV. Wilson led Las Vegas with 38 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks WRTV. The Aces shot well while Indiana's star shooters struggled. Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell combined to go just 10-for-33 from the field WRTV.
Fever Bounce Back to Force a Game Three
Indiana refused to go quietly, posting a 99-89 victory in Game 2 to even the series at 1-1 WISHTV. The Fever now face the Aces in a winner-take-all Game 3 showdown WISHTV. The first-round series is best-of-three, making the third game the clincher.
Liberty Make Historic Run as Eight Seed
The New York Liberty made WNBA playoff history by eliminating the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round WISHTV. The Liberty became the first eighth seed ever to defeat a first seed in the postseason. They won both games by identical 16-point margins, demonstrating dominance throughout the series WISHTV.
Record ABC Viewership Despite Platform Fragmentation
The Fever-Aces Game 1 set a milestone for ABC's WNBA coverage, averaging 2.1 million viewers and peaking at 2.6 million WISHTV. That's more than double the 951,000 who tuned in for the comparable playoff game on ABC the previous year WISHTV. The strong numbers came despite competition from NFL games and the Presidents Cup golf tournament's final day.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
14
Articles
189
Reach
203
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
