The WNBA has been shattering viewership records all season, and Saturday’s All-Star Game numbers continued this impressive trend.
The 2024 All-Star Game, broadcast on ABC, became the most-watched All-Star Game in WNBA history, attracting 3.44 million viewers, according to The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch. This surpasses the previous record of 1.441 million viewers set back in 2003.
This viewership milestone places the 2024 All-Star Game as the third-most watched WNBA game in history, trailing only two games from the league’s inaugural weekend in 1997. It is also the highest-viewed WNBA game on any ESPN broadcast and the most-watched contest of the current season.
In an unprecedented achievement, 17 WNBA games this season have reached at least one million viewers. This is particularly notable given that no WNBA game had hit that mark in any of the previous 16 seasons.
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A significant contributor to these record-breaking numbers has been the Indiana Fever, especially with the spotlight on rookie star Caitlin Clark. The Fever’s game against the Chicago Sky on June 23 drew 2.302 million viewers on ESPN, just shy of the regular season record of 2.44 million viewers who watched the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets on NBC in 2001. This was the third time this season that a game featuring Clark attracted viewership levels comparable to that historic 2001 matchup.
In the All-Star Game, Team WNBA triumphed over Team USA with a score of 117–109 on Saturday night in Phoenix. This thrilling game, coupled with the rising star power of players like Clark, has significantly boosted the league’s visibility and popularity.
The increasing viewership reflects the growing interest and excitement surrounding the WNBA. Fans are tuning in at unprecedented levels, captivated by the high level of play and the compelling narratives within the league. As the season progresses, the WNBA continues to set new standards for engagement and audience reach, solidifying its place in the sports landscape.
