• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Brittney Griner’s Return is Cable’s Most-Viewed WNBA Game In 24 Years

  • ESPN’s broadcast of Friday’s Phoenix Mercury-Los Angeles Sparks game drew 1 million peak viewers.
  • Average viewership was up 103% over last year’s WNBA opening night broadcast on ESPN platforms.
ESPN's broadcast was the WNBA's most-viewed regular season game on cable in 24 years.
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s broadcast of Brittney Griner’s return to the WNBA last Friday was the most-viewed WNBA regular season game on cable television in 24 years and the most-viewed WNBA opening night game on ESPN platforms in 11 years. 

Friday’s broadcast peaked at 1 million viewers and had 683,000 average viewers as Griner’s Phoenix Mercury lost to the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game’s average viewership was up 103% compared to last year’s WNBA opening night broadcast on ESPN platforms. 

Ratings for the WNBA have been up, as last year’s regular season on ESPN platforms was the league’s most-watched since 2006. April’s WNBA Draft on ESPN drew 520,000 viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA Draft since 2004. 

The WNBA’s broadcast deal with Disney-owned ESPN and ABC runs through the 2025 season. Friday night WNBA games are also airing this season on the Ion Television network through the WNBA’s new deal with the E.W. Scripps Company. 

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert also believes appetite for watching the WNBA is benefiting from popularity at the college level after April’s LSU-Iowa NCAA Championship game on ABC scored 9.9 million viewers as the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever. 

“I think we’re seeing our product being valued, coming off that strong viewership at the college level with that game on ABC,” Engelbert told Front Office Sports in an interview. “We’re different because we have a more lifestyle viewer, so when we’re on ABC, we do really well because of the nature of our fan base.”

Earlier this month, the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns had their new attempted media deal to regionally broadcast games over the air blocked by a bankruptcy judge, saying the agreement violated Phoenix’s deal with Diamond Sports Group’s Bally Sports Arizona. 

“The whole media landscape is being very disrupted, and I’m watching that very carefully as we think about our next media rights deal,” Engelbert said. “I’m excited, quite frankly, to take a look at this and the way our media rights are valued.”

Amazon is also in the third year of its deal signed in 2021 to stream 16 WNBA games per year and the Commissioner’s Cup on Prime Video. 

“We’re just going to continue to evaluate what’s going on with streamers, Amazon, as well as other streamers entering the live sports marketplace,” Engelbert said. “Now that people understand that Prime Video has live sports, we’re really gonna hit the ground running with marketing on both sides to get that viewership up on streaming and our linear partners as well.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL and College Football TV Ratings Continue to Surge, Especially for CBS

The network’s singleheader coverage Sunday drew huge viewership.

ESPN Ends Its Wild-Card Coverage With Historic TV Ratings

Wild-card viewership surges 64% to a record in the current format.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Mar 19, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; USA shortstop Trea Turner (8) throws to first base for an out during the first inning at LoanDepot Park.

Fox Picks Up Media Rights to 2026 World Baseball Classic

The network will repeat its role in the international baseball tournament.
Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Josh McCray (2) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) in the second half at Sanford Stadium.
exclusive
October 2, 2025

College Football Viewership Is Up Double Digits. Here’s Why

Average game viewership is up by more than 10% so far.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez Charged With New Felony in Indianapolis Case

The broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback faces up to six years in prison.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
The NBC Sports broadcast team works Michigan State's football game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
October 2, 2025

NBC Sports, Peacock Stay on YouTube TV With Long-Term Deal

The broad-based agreement keeps NBC channels with the key distributor.
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October 1, 2025

Alabama-Georgia Draws 10.4M Viewers, Drives Record CFB Season Pace

ABC drew 10.4 million viewers for Alabama-Georgia.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) pulls down a touchdown reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, November 13, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
September 24, 2025

Packers-Cowboys Game Is Getting Super Bowl–Like NBC Treatment

The network will bring its pregame show to Dallas.
Sep 18, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) reacts as the Fever defeat the Atlanta Dream during game three of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Gateway Center Arena at College Park.
September 19, 2025

Fever Upset of Dream Brings Ratings Boost to WNBA Semis

The Indiana Fever will face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.