Wednesday, November 4, 2026

2022 WNBA Regular Season Notches Multiple Viewership and Fan Milestones

  • The league announced multiple milestones across merchandise, viewership, and social media.
  • The league’s growth and success follows a trend in women’s sports.
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Women’s sports are growing in popularity across the board — and the WNBA is no exception.

The league’s regular season, which concluded Sunday, saw upticks in television viewership, social media engagement, and merchandise purchases, the league announced.

Viewership on national television went up 16% compared with last year, marking the highest-rated season since 2008. The league’s subscription service, WNBA League Pass, also saw a 10% jump in subscribers.

Social media handles on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat saw a 36% increase in video viewership — for a total of 186 million.

The WNBA All-Star game enjoyed record merchandise sales, twice as much as the previous record.

“We can officially say the #WNBA regular season was a SUCCESS,” the league said on Twitter.

The playoffs tip off on Wednesday between the New York Liberty and the defending champion Chicago Sky. 

The league’s recent growth and success is reflected in the college pipeline, too. The NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament set multiple viewership and attendance milestones. 

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 31, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries players hold the trophy after winning the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center

WNBA Finals Game 7 Draws 3.3M Viewers

The series averaged nearly 1.9 million viewers, the most for a Finals.

New York Liberty Fire Chris DeMarco After One Year

The Liberty were swept by the Dream in the semifinals.

Valkyries Win WNBA Title in Second Season

It’s the last Finals appearance for WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

WNBA Finals Game 6 Draws 1.5M Viewers After Scheduling Uproar

The controversial matinee game outdrew last year’s primetime championship clincher.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/4/26 – MLB Wants to Delay Salary Cap, WNBA Finals Record, What’s Next for ‘PTI’?

0:00

Featured Today

Pickering High School North

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive

ESPN Hires The Athletic Editorial Director Sergio Gonzalez

The move comes three months after ESPN eliminated Roxanna Scott’s editor-in-chief role.
Jul 11, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; ESPN reporter Michael Wilbon prior to the Phoenix Suns against the Milwaukee Bucks in game three of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2026

Michael Wilbon Takes Indefinite Leave From ESPN, PTI for Health Reasons

The longtime “PTI” cohost insists he’s not retiring.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) talks to CW sports after the game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, November 22, 2025.
First at FOS
November 3, 2026

The CW Eyes TNT Sports Rights and More CFP Games

TNT Sports’s portfolio includes the NHL, MLB, and French Open.
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson Jr. after the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2026

Ernie Johnson Wants NBA to Cut Regular Season Below 82 Games

The TNT Sports host specifically pointed to the Thunder’s recent injuries.
Mar 29, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; View of a camera with a Fox Sports logo before the game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
November 2, 2026

Fox Rides World Cup to $4.57B Quarter As Thanksgiving Hopes Fade

The network’s holiday hopes are dimming with a less attractive NFL matchup.
November 1, 2026

Tom Brady Curses on Air—Again

The FCC can issue fines or warnings for profanity on live television.
ernie johnson
October 30, 2026

Ernie Johnson Wants ‘Inside the NBA’ to Continue Without Him

Johnson said he doesn’t want to be “blamed” for ending the show.