Dont just show up for the big moments because WNBA fans and their athletes know this. "Level of Interest in Wnba in The United States as of May 2022, by Gender. July's All-Star Game averaged 734,000 viewers, a 53% increase.. WNBA 2021 commercial guide: Every franchise, every sponsor, all the major TV deals. 3), the Phoenix Mercury (No. Well reveal WNBA viewership by year. All Rights Reserved, Pay disparity between NBA, WNBA is a numbers game, Draymond Green, one of those highly paid male players, poured a little gas on the fire, the WNBA has lost an average of $10 million every year it has existed. The three-game series averaged 848,000 viewers. That is a 49% increase compared to 2020 and 24% increase to 2019. The NBA's sponsorship revenue is about 100x the WNBA's; the NBA's cable viewership is 88x the WNBA's; and the . 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. 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. And Game 2 of that series averaged 1.2 million viewers on ABC. 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. four quarters in both an NBA and WNBA game (each quarter is 12 minutes for the men and 10 minutes for the women). U.S. Bank joined the leagues growing lineup of WNBA Changemakers, which include AT&T, Deloitte, Nike, and Google. No, the NBA won't get axed. Chart. The 2023 World Baseball Classic, the first since 2017, will get underway on Tuesday, March 7. It feels like it's growing at a point, Felicien said. The league reported 387,000 average viewers last year, up 123 percent from 2019. 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. Most-Viewed Postseason Since 2014 September 21, 2022. The WNBA also welcomed Google as its newest WNBA Changemaker, joining AT&T, Deloitte and Nike. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2021 - The WNBA capped off its historic 25 th regular season by delivering its most-watched season since 2008 for its television partners - ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 - with. The playoffs were the most-watched since 2014. What percentage of WNBA viewers are female? The showdown between UConn and Baylor in the Elite Eight round was themost-watched NCAA Tournament game in 10 years, excluding Final Four matchups, reported Forbes. The 2022 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) regular season games were watched by an average of 379 thousand viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. 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. 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. 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. Meanwhile, Sabrina Ionesculed the league in jersey sales. Profit from the additional features of your individual account. 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. Later in the season, the league also delivered its most-watched regular-season game since 2012, with ABC averaging 755,000 viewers for a matchup between the Seattle Storm and Chicago Sky on Aug. 15. 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. A paid subscription is required for full access. 92-59 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals to win the Championship at Feld Entertainment Center on October 06, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. The highest-rated game in the WNBA's 25th anniversary season: an Aug. 15 contest between the Sky and Storm. You need at least a Starter Account to use this feature. According to ESPN, the 2021 WNBA Finals were the most-viewed since 2017, with an average of 548,000 viewers across ESPN networks and ABC. The mens league casts a big shadow, which is why the WNBA plays its season from July to October. As a Premium user you get access to background information and details about the release of this statistic. Every WNBA Player. You need at least a Starter Account to use this feature. And I think thats definitely achievable. she continued. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? So while television ratings were down 16 percent in the regular season, the league was pleased to simply be on more screens and in more minds during a blitz of sports in the late summer. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. 2022 WNBA All-Stars Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, Candace Parker, A . And that's across the league's four television-network partners ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, TNT and the highest average since the NBA's 2013-14 season. 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. James Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, WNBA Free Agency Special Set for ESPN2 on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Visit ESPN to view 2022 WNBA stat leaders. The champion Chicago Sky sold out both of their home games during the Finals and ticket . By this date in 2019, 15 college football games averaged at least a 3.0 ratings. 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. Stats say that 66% of WNBA viewers are actually male. The NBA's average attendance is 17,760, the WNBA's 6,535. WNBA fans are between 2 to 6.6 times more likely than an average sports fan to be interested in politics and especially womens rights, said Niky Scott, a customer success manager at Zoomph. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. Early signs indicate the WNBA Draft Class of 2021 might have an excellent chance to parlay solid NCAA ratings not only into WNBA viewers but also lucrative sponsorships. Need Photos? (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images), Ackerman, right, after the Mercury chose her as the No. The Washington Capitals are averaging 3.02 goals per game, 2.97 goals against per game, 20.9% on the power play, and 82.4% on the penalty kill. The third and fourth seeds the No. In addition, DICKS Sporting Goods became the largest national retailer for WNBA merchandise. The league is nearly irrelevant to the average sports fan. Further proof of concept was evident in the recent WNBA and Nike launch of three new uniforms for each of the 12 teams in the league. 5) followed. Revenues, of course, are not to be confused with profits. Print Page. 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. All 17. WNBA Moments on Top Shot gave fans the ability to own dynamic in-game moments from WNBA players and legends. News Archive; Media Central; Game Notes; 2022-23 Dream Overseas Updates; 2023 Schedule Release; Team Store. 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. The 2019 NBA Finals had 27% fewer viewers this year, compared to last year (17.85M to 10.4M). 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. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Regardless, the inevitable "Steenerico" reunion to take down The Bloodline . 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. WNBA DELIVERS MOST-WATCHED REGULAR SEASON SINCE 2008 2023 CNBC LLC. A multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video made the WNBA the first womens professional sports league to be streamed on Prime Video. For instance, there may have been no more exciting moment in the WNBA postseason than Phoenix Mercury guard Shey Peddys buzzer-beater against her former team, the Washington Mystics, in the first-round single-elimination game on Sept. 16. "Average TV viewers of the WNBA regular season from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s)." Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender [Graph]. It might not be fair, but it is reality. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. I just wanted to reiterate that data point. Atlanta Dream Team Store; . [12] In 2021, viewership numbers dropped 12% to 331,000 average viewers but still yielded the second-largest viewership since the 2004 Draft (601,000 views). Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites. Few basketball fans were tuned in to see Peddys shot. 2), the Las Vegas Aces (No. Use Ask Statista Research Service. Because it's time., This is a BETA experience. ), explains: Im tired of people thinking that (we) players are asking for the same type of money as NBA players we are asking for the same percentage of revenue shared within our CBA. Her Oregon teammates Satou Sabally (second overall to Dallas Wings) and Ruthy Hebard (eighth overall to Chicago Sky) also went in the first round. The athletes are your vehicles to their fans, if you can get the league and their athletes to retweet, reshare, comment or like your content, their fans will follow suit.. It then followed up the news by announcing prior to the start of the season that U.S. Bank would become the newest member of the WNBA Changemakers, the leagues collective of purpose-driven companies that harness their power to elevate women in sports and support the leagues mission around advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. It was the most watched Finals series since 2017. 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. The 2022 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google tips off on Wednesday, Aug. 17, when the No. You can only download this statistic as a Premium user. The Orange WNBA Logo Hoodie was the best-selling item on The WNBA Store for the second consecutive season. The highest average was the Phoenix Mercury with 5,849 and the lowest was the Los Angeles Sparks with 1,144. Viewership is up 89% from the 2020 MLB playoffs and there is a 3% spike from the playoffs in 2019. Here is the average WNBA attendance by team for the 2021 regular season: Total WNBA attendance by team in 2021 was led by the Phoenix Mercury with 93,585 fans. Several college stars embarked on their WNBA journey today as all 12 teams officially opened training camp. Digital: A record was set for the traffic the WNBA site saw online. 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. Minnesota Lynxs Sylvia Fowles, in the final game of her illustrious career, became the first player in league history to log 4,000 career rebounds and Seattle Storms Sue Bird scored her 1,000. The womens league now has a commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. Well, either way, its a tough sell for a league that cant turn a profit and survives on handouts from the NBA. The WNBA Playoffs will feature a maximum of 27 games, all available across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, the ESPN App and NBA TV. The ratings also represent a 63 percent increase from those in 2020. Strong Regular Season Growth Theres a big gap between PGA Tour and LPGA Tour prize money. Under the CBA, base salaries increase to $130,000 and the leagues elite players can earn upward of $500,000. The premiere episode of Not Dead Yet had about 7.6 million viewers and a 1.76 rating among the 18-49 demographic in the seven days after its premiere on across linear and digital platforms. The WNBA also welcomed Google as its newest WNBA Changemaker, joining AT&T, Deloitte and Nike and the tech company sponsored 25 games on ESPN as part of the partnership. What might be better is a carryover buzz from Womens College Basketball. The 2021 NBA Playoffs overall (inclusive of Finals) averaged 4.25 million viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT, up 35% vs. the 2020 postseason. The NBA watched the NFL capture an eleven-year deal worth more than $100 billion deal last summer. Which was a drop of 16% on the previous year. Still, there were times that WNBA oversaturation bit the league. Access to this and all other statistics on 80,000 topics from, Show sources information The WNBA's Covid-disrupted 2020 regular season averaged 205,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. During opening weekend in 2021, WNBA viewership soared 25% versus the prior year. The first and second rounds are single-elimination games. Sunday's Game 1 of the ALCS on TBS drew 2.07 million viewers. @megsterr. system, which features three uniform editions for each of the 12 teams, WNBA merchandise on The WNBA Store saw record growth this season with a 50% increase over last year. The league started the 25th season by introducing its new official game ball by Wilson Sporting Goods through a new multiyear global partnership. ", Regular season attendance WNBA games 2022. WNBA viewership during the 2021 regular season was up 49 percent year over year. The showdown recorded 789,000 viewers, peaking at a million for the primetime presentation. You can only download this statistic as a Premium user. WNBA players want what NBA players spent decades trying to obtain. The strong showing in 2021 made it the most-viewed postseason since 2014. The WNBA Semifinals and the WNBA Finals 2021 presented by YouTube TV are a best-of-five series. Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros was the most-watched MLB game of the 2019 season. Also, the viewership on ESPN and ESPN2 increased 11% from 202,000 views last season to 224,000. Half of that 66% are Black males despite the fact that black men make up around 7% of the US population as a whole. For a league that is still focused on growth and evening the playing field, the virtual pandemic season still produced reason for optimism. Ultimately, its a missed opportunity for the WNBA. 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. The increase in WNBA viewership coincides with the most-ever league games on national television. In addition to ESPN, this years WNBA games are being broadcast on Amazon Prime Video for the first time. 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. However, the average viewership for the 2020 finals increased 15% to 440,000. Lets first take a look at the last two WNBA Drafts. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. The Nielson-measured average total viewers for national telecasts of NBA games was up 8% from the 2016-17 season at 1.28 million. Get full access to all features within our Business Solutions. Enjoying SportsPro content? And the 2021 WNBA Finals Game 2 was the most watched Game 2 since 2003, peaking with 1 million viewers. The first round will be the best-of-three, while the semifinals and Finals will be best-of-five series. ESPN said the 2021 WNBA Finals between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury attracted an average of 548,000 viewers throughout four games. The league started the 25thseason by introducing its new official game ball by Wilson Sporting Goods through a new multiyear global partnership. The 2021 WNBA Finals on ESPN networks and ABC - Chicago Sky victory over the Phoenix Mercury - averaged 548,000 viewers across four games, a 23 percent increase from 2020 (447,000 average viewers in three games) and a 42 percent surge from 2019 (386,000 average viewers in five games). In, SportsPro. Viewership across its national television partners ABC, CBS, ESPN, and ESPN2 was up 16 percent over the 2021 season. Please do not hesitate to contact me. As soon as this statistic is updated, you will immediately be notified via e-mail. Game 2 (Oct. 13, ESPN) became the most-viewed Game 2 since 2003 and the most-viewed Finals game since 2017s Game 5. Well explore average WNBA attendance, and share attendance results by team. The late 90s and early 2000s had some of the highest regular season game best attendance averages to date. On the surface, it appears that the women have little argument there is no comparison between NBA and WNBA revenues but first lets understand what WNBA players want. They did that during the NBC days. Amidst an unprecedented season in the NBA . I would imagine a majority of people who watch the WNBA are people who watch the NBA, so its going to be a very difficult thing to build an audience when, even if you like (both leagues) equally, youre stepping on a Game 7 and thats going to take precedence, Lewis added. You need a Statista Account for unlimited access. I cover the Phoenix Suns as well as the broader NBA and WNBA, PALMETTO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Breanna Stewart, #30 of the Seattle Storm drives to the basket against A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces during the first half of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Feld Entertainment Center on October 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. The league added it's also the most-viewed WNBA season since 2008. We made the roster requirements . The 2021 NCAA Womens Final Four pulled some of its highest viewership numbers ever. His season stats have been removed from the XFL website but are still available via the Guardians' Week 1 box score. It has taken decades to overcome such backward thinking, and the womens games have been playing catch-up ever since. The WNBA capped off its historic 25thregular season by delivering its most-watched season since 2008 for its television partners ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 viewershipwas up 51% over the 2020 season. Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header. 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. 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. ", 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. The WNBA reached several milestones in its landmark season. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images), television ratings were down 16 percent in the regular season, organize political and social movements among fans and viewers. 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. Over the whole season, they didnt get a single situation where they were leading into the NBA or the NBA was leading into them. ESPN is making it easy to watch the Draft, Bria Felicien, the creator of The Black Sportswoman, said. Use Ask Statista Research Service, The source phrased the question as, "In general, would you describe yourself as an avid fan, a casual fan or not a fan of each of the following? Womens tennis is as popular or more popular than the mens game, and womens gymnastics is much more popular than the mens sport. "Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender." You may opt-out by. Baseball viewership statistics were down 20% from the 2014-15 season. Said Lewis: We all know the WNBAs numbers still dont compare, but when youre talking about a period of time when every sport is still having trouble in the ratings and you can say not only that your numbers were up but that they were up double digits, thats a pretty decent story for them.. A bigger cut for the players means higher subsidies from their benefactor. At a time when sports continue to shed live viewers, the WNBAs numbers this year shows they still have not hit their ceiling. 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. According to WNBA statistics, 75 percent of the fans in attendance at a WNBA game are female. Yet their media rights fees are five-to-15 times the WNBAs. Overall, the 2014 playoffs averaged a 0.3 rating and 489,000 viewers on the ESPN networks, up from 0.2 and 272,000 in 2013. The WNBA fails to generate even one percent of the NBA's $8-$9 billion in revenue. Dont let WNBA stories go untold. More people tuned into the biggest WNBA games this year, even with many more options than usual. The NBA's average ticket price is variously reported at between $51 to $89; the WNBA's $17. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes.