The WNBA's return has sparked a fresh wave of interest, with the league's opening weekend attracting a substantial audience, albeit slightly lower than last year's record-breaking numbers. This year's season opener, featuring the Wings and Fever, drew an impressive 1.4 rating and 2.49 million viewers on ABC, positioning it as the fourth-largest audience for the league since 2000.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the context of these numbers. Nielsen's recent changes in measurement methodology, which now include out-of-home viewing, have added a layer of complexity to historical comparisons. Despite these challenges, the WNBA's audience remains robust, with the Wings-Fever game outperforming other sporting events over the weekend, excluding the NBA Playoffs and PGA Tour.
A Closer Look at the Numbers
The Wings-Fever matchup, featuring some of the league's brightest stars, including Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers, and Caitlin Clark, drew a significant audience. While the numbers dipped compared to last year's highly anticipated Clark-Reese rivalry, it's important to note that the 2022 season opener was a notable event in itself.
The second game of the doubleheader, a rematch of the WNBA Finals between the Mercury and Aces, averaged 1.2 million viewers, a slight decrease from last year's Aces-Liberty game. However, the overall doubleheader average of 1.85 million viewers was an improvement on the first ABC doubleheader two years ago.
Broader Trends and Implications
The recent NCAA women's basketball tournament also experienced a decline in viewership during the early rounds, but maintained a strong overall performance. This trend seems to be reflected in the WNBA's opening week, with ION's Opening Night doubleheader attracting a smaller audience than last year's Bueckers debut.
The league's new broadcast partners, USA Network, debuted with a solid 529,000 viewers for the Aces-Sparks game, a promising start for the network's coverage.
In my opinion, these numbers highlight the WNBA's resilience and the growing interest in women's sports. Despite the slight dip in viewership, the league's overall performance remains impressive, especially considering the competitive landscape of sporting events over the weekend.
The WNBA's ability to consistently attract a substantial audience, even with changing broadcast partners and measurement methodologies, is a testament to the league's strength and the dedication of its fans.
As we look ahead, it will be interesting to see how the WNBA's viewership evolves throughout the season and whether the league can maintain its momentum and continue to grow its audience.
