The opening game of the WNBA Finals captured unprecedented attention, with the clash between No. 2 seed Golden State and No. 4 seed Atlanta setting new viewership milestones. This Game 1 victory by Golden State became the most-watched series opener in the history of the league, drawing a peak audience of 3 million viewers—an 11% increase compared to last season’s initial Finals game between Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Significantly, this broadcast marked NBC’s return to airing WNBA Finals games for the first time since 2002, surpassing the network’s previous highest viewership of 2.85 million during the 1997 winner-take-all championship game. The resurgence of interest on NBC highlights the growing popularity of women’s professional basketball on mainstream television.
Strong Numbers Continue for Game 2 on USA Network
The momentum carried into Monday’s Game 2, which debuted on USA Network, tallying 1.33 million viewers across both television and streaming platforms. This figure established the game as the most-watched Game 2 in WNBA Finals history on cable television, underscoring the expanding audience base for the league’s championship series.
These impressive viewing figures come as part of a comprehensive $3.1 billion media agreement that guarantees the broadcasting of the WNBA Finals through 2037. The best-of-seven series is distributed among ESPN, Prime Video, and the NBC/USA Network partnership, ensuring broad access and visibility for the league’s marquee event over the next decade and beyond.