• Loading stock data...
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

WNBA Draft Is ESPN’s Most-Viewed in 19 Years

  • Viewership for this year’s draft was up 42% compared to last year’s event.
  • The WNBA Draft comes from one of the most memorable and historic NCAA women’s college basketball seasons.
WNBA Draft ratings.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Monday’s WNBA Draft on ESPN was the league’s most-viewed draft since 2004, and the second-most viewed WNBA Draft on record. 

ESPN said 572,000 viewers tuned into this week’s draft, which saw the Indiana Fever select South Carolina star Aliyah Boston with the first-overall pick. Viewership for this year’s draft was up 42% compared to ESPN’s coverage of the 2022 WNBA Draft, which averaged 403,000 viewers. 

Viewership for the league is on the upswing after last year’s season was the most-viewed on ESPN since 2006. Improved ratings could result in continued benefits felt by WNBA players, such as an expanded charter flight program that will debut this upcoming season. 

The Draft comes from one of the most memorable and historic NCAA women’s college basketball seasons after LSU defeated Iowa in the national title game.

The tournament garnered record ratings during March Madness. Despite not being eligible for the WNBA Draft, LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark helped bring momentum to the sport.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Angel Reese Faces Uncertain Future In Chicago After Publicly Torching Teammates 

Some sources say Reese’s future in Chicago may not be reparable.
Caitlin Clark

Podcast Deletes Episode With Big3 Announcer’s Claim of $15M Caitlin Clark Offer

Clark’s WNBA contract was less than $80,000 in her first season.
Dallas Wings

WNBA Teams Desperate to Expand Rosters Amid ‘Extreme Hardship’ 

The Wings are scrambling to field eight players Friday night.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.

Bill Belichick’s UNC Debut Draws More Than 6M Viewers on ESPN

TCU-UNC was the fifth-most-watched college football game of Week 1.
September 2, 2025

NFL on Nielsen’s Latest Measurement Upgrade: ‘More Work to Be Done’

The league calls its relationship with the agency a “protracted journey.”
September 3, 2025

Ohio State–Texas Showdown Was Most-Watched Week 1 CFB Game Ever

Fox drew 16.62 million viewers on Saturday afternoon.
Sponsored

Trailblazer Cal Calamia Is Racing for ‘Advocacy, Storytelling, and Performance’

The marathoner wants excellence—not just inclusion—to be the goal for non-binary athletes.
September 1, 2025

Lee Corso’s Farewell Delivers Record ‘College GameDay’ Viewership

ESPN averaged 3.5 million viewers, per preliminary figures.
August 28, 2025

NFL Preseason Sees 17% Jump in TV Ratings, Best Since 2018

Average audiences for the exhibition games increase sharply from last year.
Tom Brady
August 27, 2025

NFL Continues to Loosen Tom Brady Restrictions

Brady will be able to attend production meetings–remotely–this season.
ESPN
August 27, 2025

Disney Sues Sling TV Over $5 Day Passes Granting ESPN Access

Newly introduced short-term subscriptions spark a legal challenge.