• Loading stock data...
Saturday, February 7, 2026

Through Three Games, WNBA Finals Sets 20-Year Viewership High

  • The Liberty-Aces series is averaging 673,000 viewers across ABC and ESPN, the most-watched Finals in 20 years.
  • Sunday’s 87-73 win for New York over Las Vegas averaged 659,000 viewers — the most-watched Game 3 in 18 years.
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) waves to the crowd against the Las Vegas Aces during game three of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center.
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Liberty and WNBA Finals viewership both rebounded in Game 3.

Sunday’s 87-73 win for New York over the Las Vegas Aces averaged 659,000 viewers — making it the most-watched Finals Game 3 in 18 years and a 14% increase over 2022’s comparable contest. The contest peaked with 945,000 viewers at 5 p.m. ET.

Interestingly, the WNBA Finals have performed better on Sundays while competing against the NFL rather than on a weeknight: Game 1 of the series garnered 729,000 average viewers, while Game 2 last Wednesday averaged just 626,000.

Overall, though, the WNBA Finals are doing quite well viewership-wise: Through three games, the series is averaging 673,000 viewers across ABC and ESPN — the most-watched Finals through Game 3 in 20 years and a 13% increase from 2022.

The WNBA and the Liberty experienced another win on Sunday as well. With 17,143 attending the game at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, New York reported a league record for gate receipt (specific revenue numbers were not reported). 

Ahead of the series, ticket prices on the secondary market were some of the highest in WNBA history, with Game 3 in particular being one of the best-selling games on record at ticket marketplace StubHub.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jan 24, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama center Charles Bediako (14) warms up before the SEC basketball game against Tennessee at Coleman Coliseum. Bediako was reinstated to play college basketball after winning a legal battle.

Even With Bediako Win, a New Precedent Could Still Be Far Off

“If he wins, it’s not a decision that other state courts would be bound to follow.”
Jan 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives for the basket against Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum.

Giannis Stays Put At NBA Trade Deadline While Clips, Bulls Rebuild

The Bucks will keep Antetokounmpo through the end of the season.
Feb 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (35) drives to the basket against DePaul Blue Demons guard Kate Novik (33) during the first half at Wintrust Arena.

College Basketball Ratings Are Soaring Across All Networks

Average viewership for men’s games on Fox is up 69% this season.
Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny: Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Be ‘Huge Party’

The Puerto Rican superstar gives no specific clues about the upcoming spectacle.

Featured Today

Milan’s Olympic Village Is Built for Performance—and Partying

Making Milan’s Olympic Village was a five-year sprint.
February 5, 2026

Welcome to the Prediction-Market Super Bowl

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being traded across many platforms.
Feb 1, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots players arrive prior to Super Bowl LX at San Jose Mineta International Airport.
February 3, 2026

Private Equity Has Reached the Super Bowl

The Patriots are one of four NFL teams with PE investment.
University of Southern California
January 31, 2026

College Athletic Departments Are Wooing Recruits With Content Studios

Schools are creating content studios to win recruits and donor dollars.

Kirk Herbstreit Has 3 Solutions to College Football’s ‘Big Problem’

The ESPN analyst sounded off on the current state of the sport.
Dave Portnoy
February 6, 2026

Dave Portnoy’s Radio Row Un-Banning Is Part of New Barstool Era

Media “is moving towards us. It’s not moving the other way.”
Feb 5, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seth Rollins poses on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts.
February 6, 2026

Seth Rollins: Ben Johnson Has ‘Definitely’ Taken Lesson From WWE

The WWE star says “personal stories and rivalries make everything huge.”
Sponsored

Paying a Premium: Super Bowl LX Is a Hot Ticket

Super Bowl LX ticket prices are among the highest of the decade. TickPick data breaks down demand, pricing trends, and where fans are buying.
Nov 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; General view of video cameras for Thursday Night Football before the game between the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium.
February 6, 2026

Why NFL Coaches Are Calling Amazon About Its Game Data

The streamer is pushing the envelope on analytics.
exclusive
February 5, 2026

Shannon Sharpe Open to Reunion With Stephen A. Smith, ESPN

“I’d love to go back if they call,” Sharpe told Front Office Sports.
Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
February 5, 2026

Could Tom Brady Get Rejected by Pro Football Hall of Fame?

“Maybe it’s not trending so well for ex-Patriots,” Brady joked.
February 4, 2026

NFL Podcaster John Middlekauff on Netflix Move: It’s Not Some Startup

Netflix obtained video rights for Middlekauff’s NFL show, 3 & Out.