The first round then continues Thursday, Aug. 18, when the No. US broadcaster ESPN has revealed that viewership of the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) has been up significantly during the early weeks of the 2021 regular season. That number was up 18% year over year, according to ESPN, despite the competition. The Olympics didnt allow women to run an event longer than 800 meters until the 1972 Games, when the 1,500-meter run was added to the program; meanwhile, the men were also contesting longer distances 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and the marathon. And the new-age distributed sports network and brand, Overtime, reported that in 2021, OT WBB, their TikTok handle focused on womens basketball was in the top 25 of all sports media accounts on TikTok. They did that during the NBC days. Because of ESPNs commitment to the league and brands increasing desire to get involved with the leagues star players, online engagement with the WNBA continued to grow. The 2019 NBA Finals had 27% fewer viewers this year, compared to last year (17.85M to 10.4M). Sue Bird(No. Complement's plant-based kitchen sweepstakes Weather report: Study shows bovine meat and milk factors linked to colorectal cancer, Farm Rich plant-based mozzarella sticks in Walmart and Kroger, plant-based raw tuna coming to San Francisco restaurants The Beer You Should Order, Based on Your Zodiac Sign (Best Life . Yet their media rights fees are five-to-15 times the WNBAs. G Games Played. Overall, WNBA ratings were down, but the Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the Seattle Storm were up 15% from the 2019 five-game series between the Aces and the Washington Mystics the year prior. For specifically the WNBA Finals in 2021, the first game of the series (Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury) peaked with 547,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed opening game of the Finals since 2017. [Online]. The NBAs annual revenues are $7.92 billion, the WNBAs $60 million which would not even cover the combined salaries of NBA players Kevin Love and Damian Lillard. ", Morning Consult, Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1108312/women-national-basketball-association-interest-gender/ (last visited March 05, 2023), Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender [Graph], Morning Consult, May 26, 2022. A paid subscription is required for full access. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set Thats where the WNBA finds itself in its search for an identity (and higher pay) on the American sports scene. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2021 The WNBA capped off its historic 25th regular season by delivering its most-watched season since 2008 for its television partners ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 with viewership up 51% over the 2020 season, and by setting records for merchandise sales online and engagement across its social media platforms. most-watched NCAA Tournament game in 10 years, WNBA Viewership & Ratings Growing In 2021, Fans prefer to attend Seattle Storm games on, During the WNBAs first season, the Phoenix Mercury had the highest a, In 2008 the Detroit Shock were the WNBA Champions. MPG Minutes Per Game . TV viewership will be essential for Silver's league as it returns to a standard 82-game format. The NBA and WNBA have little in common, other than they play the same sport. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. The WNBA is being searched more on Google in the past 5 years than the prior 15, indicating increased awareness. Strauss adds the league's local viewership, too, has sharply declined. A multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video made the WNBA the first womens professional sports league to be streamed on Prime Video, with Amazon receiving exclusive streaming rights to 16 WNBA games each season. The highest-rated game in the WNBA's 25th anniversary season: an Aug. 15 contest between the Sky and Storm. The campaign generated 9 million impressions on the leagues owned social media accounts alone, according to data provided to me by the social media data firm Zoomph. Most Super Bowl wins by NFL team 1967-2023, Average ticket price in the NFL by team 2021, FIFA World Ranking: top male soccer teams 2022, Athletic footwear global market share by company 2015, Health & Fitness Clubs - Statistics & Facts, Sporting goods industry in the U.S. - statistics & facts, Research expert covering sports and video gaming, Profit from additional features with an Employee Account. Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header. Be an ally, be inclusive and be consistent when reporting or putting quality content out there about the WNBA. 4), andBreanna Stewart(No. You cant ask for anything better than to have a 15 percent increase (for the Finals) when the NBA Finals is down 49 percent, John Lewis of Paulsen Sports Media Watch said last October. Here's the "Sunday Night Football" viewership so far this season: Week 1: Bears-Rams, 17.64 million Week 2: Chiefs-Ravens, 19.81 million Week 3: Packers-49ers, 19.69 million Week 4:. to incorporate the statistic into your presentation at any time. U.S. Bank joined the leagues growing lineup of WNBA Changemakers, which include AT&T, Deloitte, Nike, and Google. 1 June 2021 Sam Carp News SHARE THIS ARTICLE. The showdown recorded 789,000 viewers, peaking at a million for the primetime presentation. Today's top WNBA players can earn upwards of $500,000, courtesy of last year's landmark collective bargaining agreement, which guaranteed new maternity benefits and better travel conditions. Baseball viewership statistics were down 20% from the 2014-15 season. Statista. An NBA Draft . ESPN said the 2021 WNBA Finals between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury attracted an average of 548,000 viewers throughout four games. At a time when sports continue to shed live viewers, the WNBAs numbers this year shows they still have not hit their ceiling. Women's basketball has notched yet another viewership milestone this time at the pro level. Despite being virtual as opposed to broadcast live from Nike Headquarters in New York City they are the two most-viewed WNBA Drafts in nearly 20 years. As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic. Still, there were times that WNBA oversaturation bit the league. And the 2019 finals featuring the Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics averaged 386,000 viewers and lasted five games. Dont let WNBA stories go untold. The network said Game 3 was the most-watched, with an average of 524,000 viewers. VIEWERSHIP: Combined viewership for the WNBA across ESPN Networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2) and the CBS Television Network was up 16 percent over the 2021 regular season, averaging 379,000. WNBA basketball. Add in the leagues partnership with CBS Sports Network as well as Facebook and Twitter, and nearly every game was televised for a national audience in 2020. ESPN is making it easy to watch the Draft, Bria Felicien, the creator of The Black Sportswoman, said. We want to hear from you. . The rest, as they say, is history. WNBA viewership during the 2021 regular season was up 49 percent year over year. 2023 Players Check out our Player Season Finder to search through the entire history of WNBA player stats using custom criteria. The late 90s and early 2000s had some of the highest regular season game best attendance averages to date. The NBA watched the NFL capture an eleven-year deal worth more than $100 billion deal last summer. We kept the scoring simple: 0.5 PPR, all touchdowns with six points, all turnovers worth minus-2 points, everything else typical of a decimal-point Fantasy league. 4 Seattle Storm received a bye into the second round. Bill Laimbeer, a four-time NBA All-Star, was known as one of the Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys" when they won NBA championships in 1989 . Revenues, of course, are not to be confused with profits. So today, well take break down the leagues growth. The 2021 Finals are the most viewed since the 2017 Finals between the LA Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx, which registered 563,000 viewers. The increase in WNBA viewership coincides with the most-ever league games on national television. 2),Diana Taurasi(No. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. The MLB World Series averaged 13.91 million viewers nationally, down 1.3% from last year. It hasnt helped that womens sports came late to the game. Figures prior to 2022 come from earlier articles. The regular season takes place in summer from May to August and the play-offs in. NBA players receive around 50% of shared revenue within their league, whereas we receive around 20%.. Most-Viewed Postseason Since 2014 Yesterday was a historic day for the @WNBA @nikebasketball released 3new designs for each team and the reveal ERUPTED on social media There were over 17K posts, 646K engagements, and 69 MILLION impressions about the drop Which one is your fave?#WNBA pic.twitter.com/kmj2uNzu0j. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. As a media company, I would align with the WNBAs fan culture on social, Scott said. The four-game Sky-Mercury WNBA Finals averaged 548,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, marking the largest audience for the event since the five-game Lynx-Sparks series in 2017 (559K). In addition, the league teamed up with Dapper Labs, the company behind NBA Top Shot and the Flow blockchain, to launch WNBA Moments on Top Shot, giving fans the ability to own dynamic in-game moments from WNBA players and legends. Plus, we discuss some fun attendance facts that might surprise you, and what led to 69 million social media impressions for the league this year. Of the eight original teams, only the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, and the New York Liberty have lasted. The four-game series averaged 548,000 viewers, according to ESPN. In particular, the deciding Game 3 of the Finals fit perfectly the formula that Lewis has observed tends to serve up the best ratings for the league. That year, the minimum regular season attendance was on a Wednesday, with, The Miami Sols best highest attended regular season game was July 17, 2002 against the Sacramento Monarchs, with. The mens league casts a big shadow, which is why the WNBA plays its season from July to October. PALMETTO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 06: The Seattle Storm celebrates after defeating the Las Vegas Aces [+] 92-59 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals to win the Championship at Feld Entertainment Center on October 06, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. It was the first WNBA game post All-Star Game and Olympic break airing in the afternoon on ABC. "Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender." Are you interested in testing our business solutions? The showdown between UConn and Baylor in the Elite Eight round was the most-watched NCAA Tournament game in 10 years, excluding Final Four matchups. Across 17 games, the 2021 playoffs averaged 367,000 viewers, 63 per cent higher than the entire 2020 postseason (226,000 average viewers) and 42 per cent higher than 2019 (258,000 average. The first round will be the best-of-three, while the semifinals and Finals will be best-of-five series. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, the Los Angeles Sparks reported just 18,319 attendees in 2021. Serena Williams and Brittney Griner were each honored at the NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, when Williams won the Jackie Robinson Sports Award and . Currently, you are using a shared account. For the first time in league history, the WNBA used in-game wearables by KINEXON and optical tracking technology by Hawk-Eye to generate 3D immersive highlights, which were used in real time during Prime Videos broadcast of the inaugural WNBA Commissioners Cup Championship Game. For example, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unionized female employees earn 29% more than non-unionized female employees and unionized black employees earn 27% more than non-unionized black employees. It might not be fair, but it is reality. 5) followed. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set News Archive; Media Central; Game Notes; 2022-23 Dream Overseas Updates; 2023 Schedule Release; Team Store. Sky guard Kahleah Copper won the 2021 Finals MVP after averaging 17 points and 5.5 rebounds in the series. The 2019 NBA Finals averaged a little more than 20 million viewers per game; the 2019 WNBA Finals averaged about 400,000 viewers per game. At the same time, the leagues digital footprint tells a slightly different story. The top two seeds the No. Measuring the post-season revenue is a bit difficult, but estimating is assisted by presented viewership numbers. 3 Minnesota Lynx and the No. The WNBA reported a 51% increase in viewership over the regular season in 2020. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. ESPN also. The game took place on a weekday on ESPN (rather than ESPN2) and had no football or NBA competition. The WNBA is 50 years behind in building its brand and working out labor issues. WHAT a @WNBA season State of League . ET. Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky celebrates with her teammates after winning Game Four of the 2021 WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury on October 17, 2021 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. It has taken decades to overcome such backward thinking, and the womens games have been playing catch-up ever since. The drop of new jerseys alone yielded over 69 million impressions on drop day. According to ESPN, the audience figure represents a rise of 74 per cent on the average for the entire 2020 season and an increase of 45 per cent compared to the average viewership during the 2019 campaign. Use Ask Statista Research Service. The league started the 25th season by introducing its new official game ball by Wilson Sporting Goods through a new multiyear global partnership. We've been waiting for this kind of recognition for so many years. For the 2021 season, the WNBA's combined viewership averaged 306,000 viewers. viewership dropped roughly 50 percent . Business Solutions including all features. And I think thats definitely achievable. she continued. Print Page. According to Statista, the average TV viewers of the WNBA regular season in 2016 was 224,000 and grew to 246,000 in 2019. More people. Subscribe to get the latest articles first. LPGA golfers face the same challenge. A hockey podcast that doesn't talk about last night's scores. @megsterr. How about how many people were willing to leave the comfort of their homes and hit the arena? No, the NBA won't get axed. All stats are from the 2018-2019 NBA season and the 2019 WNBA season. The WNBA fails to generate even one percent of the NBA's $8-$9 billion in revenue. In addition, the league teamed up with Dapper Labs, the company behind NBA Top Shot and the Flow blockchain, to launch the first WNBA NFTs. AT&T WNBA 2022 All-Star Game became the most viewed All-Star Game in 6 years, averaging 734,000 viewers, up 53 percent over last years event. Four players logged seven triple-doubles in the regular season. Lets first take a look at the last two WNBA Drafts. That likely gives the WNBA a roadmap forward and helps create a proof of concept for a league that is engaged politically and socially while remaining popular among sports fans. NBA commissioner Adam Silver reports that the WNBA has lost an average of $10 million every year it has existed, which the NBA subsidizes out of the goodness of its politically correct heart. Interest in womens basketball is on the rise. You need a Statista Account for unlimited access. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images). An average of 379,000 viewers watched WNBA games on ABC, ESPN and CBS, the league said Wednesday, a 16% increase from 2021. The WNBA reached several milestones in its landmark season. Accessed March 05, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236723/wnba-regular-season-viewers/, SportsPro. Stats say that 66% of WNBA viewers are actually male. How do you get that bias out of that valuation model? Zoomph data shows the WNBA has a fan base that is nearly two times more female than average, which could mean more purchasing power than more male-centered sports, a strong sign for advertising. The 2021 WNBA regular season averaged 306,000 viewers, up 49 percent compared to 2020 and 24 percent to 2019, ESPN announced Thursday. The 2019 NBA Finals averaged a little more than 20 million viewers per game; the 2019 WNBA Finals averaged about 400,000 viewers per game. I think the social media engagement was so it was different than last year, it was more intense, everyone was more excited. In comparison, last October's three-game WNBA Finals series featuring the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces averaged 440,000 viewers. statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. Statistics; Advanced Stats; Standings; News. . 2022 WNBA All-Stars Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, Candace Parker, A . Other highlights from the season include: The WNBA Playoffs 2021 presented by Google tipped off on Thursday, Sept. 23, with two first-round, single-elimination games on ESPN2. The Christmas Day lineup netted a 10% increase in viewership, with the Dallas Mavericks and Lakers contest averaging 7.01 million viewers. Just two weeks later and five games in, WNBA ratings climbed even higher to 74% year over year growth. In that year, the WNBA averaged 413,000 viewers. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The Women's National Basketball Association concluded its 25th anniversary season with another positive sign for viewership for its championship series. You only have access to basic statistics. Every WNBA Player. The 2023 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament presented by TIAA marks the 30th in conference history. In, SportsPro. Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender [Graph]. 2), the Las Vegas Aces (No. [Online]. Who is new Runnin Ute Keba Keita and how is Utahs 2022-23 roster shaping up? Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. What might be better is a carryover buzz from Womens College Basketball. There was just more interest because everything has been more available, starting with the college games. The St. Louis Blues are 27-29-5 this season after they defeated the San Jose Sharks by a score of 6-3 in their last game. Terrell Buckley, a 14-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, knows a thing or two about work ethic and during an XFL game on Sunday, he blasted his team for their performance. Season. The league also reached several milestones including new sponsors, merchandise, distribution, and technology. Chart. Click the logo and sign up for access to the ESPN Images Library. In addition, DICKS Sporting Goods became the largest national retailer for WNBA merchandise. The WNBA Draft, held Monday on ESPN, averaged 403,000 viewers, the network announced a 20% increase from last year's draft and the most since 2004. According to Burack, who also cited Nielsen data, TNT's slate of NBA games declined by 19 percent compared to 2019 (from 1.5 million to 1.2 million viewers per game) while ESPN's offerings . And Buzzer began featuring live content and WNBA League Pass games on its mobile platform in the companys first foray into womens professional sports. Amidst an unprecedented season in the NBA . In addition to ESPN, this years WNBA games are being broadcast on Amazon Prime Video for the first time. Teams averaged more made three-point field goals (7.7) than in any prior season propelling teams to average 82.3 points per game, the third-highest figure in league history. Nobody wants to acknowledge that some sports translate better than others for both men and women, for whatever reason. This will also be the first time since 2015 the tournament has been played outside Indianapolis, making its inaugural appearance in Minneapolis at the Target Center, home of the four-time WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx and the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. Black History Month: Emerging Leaders | Renee Montgomery: An Owner with a Players Perspective, WNBA Draft 2023 Presented By State Farm To Be Held On April 10th. Season Type Per Mode. Game 3 (Oct.15, ESPN2) notched 524,000 viewers and peaked at 591,000, making it the most-viewed non-title-clinching Game 3 since the 2007 WNBA Finals. A multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video made the WNBA the first womens professional sports league to be streamed on Prime Video. I was beginning to question how the Las Vegas Aces could even afford the roster they currently have: 2022 All-WNBA First-Team and WNBA All-Star MVP Kelsey Plum, 2022 WNBA Champion and Finals MVP Chelsea Gray, 2020/2022 WNBA MVP and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year A'ja Wilson and, oh yeah, now Candace Parker, too. Considering the circumstances, the WNBA will likely come away from its 2020 season content with the way it was able to connect with fans, especially from its Bubble in south Florida. On TNT, in the measurement from 2011-12, NBA viewership is down 40%. four quarters in both an NBA and WNBA game (each quarter is 12 minutes for the men and 10 minutes for the women). It feels like it's growing at a point, Felicien said. The increase in WNBA viewership coincides with the most-ever league games on national television. ET. The highest average was the Phoenix Mercury with 5,849 and the lowest was the Los Angeles Sparks with 1,144. The BarDown Podcast. All Rights Reserved. WNBA games averaged 321,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and CBS during the regular season, up 51% from last year and the league's most-watched season in 13 years. If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again. 2 Las Vegas Aces earned a double bye into the WNBA Semifinals (third round). Strong Regular Season Growth Saturdays inaugural fixture on the streaming service saw the Atlanta Dream secure a thrilling 90-87 win over the New York Liberty in overtime. Register in seconds and access exclusive features. Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. Take the Orange Hoodie campaign in which the league partnered with ESPN and athletes across sport to push its signature orange logo hoodie, sold by Fanatics, as well as general excitement in the lead-up to its opening weekend in late July. WNBA Stats and History Statistics, scores, and history for the Women's National Basketball Association. New York Libertys Sabrina Ionescu became the first WNBA player to eclipse 500 points, 200 rebounds and 200 assists in a single season.