Thursday, May 14, 2026

Las Vegas Aces Clincher Produces Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 4

  • The 889,000 average viewers represented the most-watched game of this year’s Finals.
  • Competing with ALCS Game 3, it was still the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 4 of all time.
Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum drives past New York Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot in the first quarter during game four of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center.
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Just like the champion Las Vegas Aces, the 2023 WNBA Finals finished strong with record viewership.

Wednesday night’s Game 4 reportedly averaged 889,000 viewers for ESPN — the most-watched game of this year’s championship series and the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 4 of all time.

The average represents a huge 124% increase over 2022’s Game 4 involving the Aces and Connecticut Sun — also a championship clincher for Las Vegas — and peaked at 1.3 million viewers at 10 p.m. ET as the contest was coming down to the wire in the fourth quarter.

The WNBA competed with baseball’s ALCS Game 3 between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, which attracted 4.6 million average viewers on Fox, as well as AEW Wednesday Night Dynamite, which averaged 901,000 viewers on TBS, per SportsTVRatings.

Prior to the final game, the 2023 WNBA Finals was averaging 673,000 viewers, making it the most-watched series through three games since 2003. With Wednesday’s viewership included, that number jolts up to 728,000 to maintain that superlative and be a 36% increase from 2022’s Finals.

It caps off a successful year for the W on television.

The 2023 regular season reached 36 million total unique viewers and averaged 505,000 per game — a 27% and 8% increase from the year prior, respectively. The 2023 Postseason averaged 470,000 viewers across ESPN platforms, making it the most-watched postseason in 16 years.

Overall, the regular season, Playoffs, and Finals averaged 453,900 viewers — the most-watched full season on ESPN platforms in 18 years, and a 10% increase from 2022.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Los Angeles, CA - May 8, 2026 - LAPC: Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless on the set of First Take.

‘First Take’ Ratings Up 24% for Skip Bayless Return

The episode marked Bayless’s first ESPN appearance in a decade.

How Sports Graphic Designers Are Grappling With the Rise of AI Art

The release of ChatGPT 2.0 Images sparked a conversation among sports designers.
Mar 15, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; ACC commissioner Jim Phillips hands the championship trophy to Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer after the 2025 ACC Conference Championship game against the Louisville Cardinals at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

ACC Backs Duke-Amazon Deal Despite Big Ten Concerns

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips revealed ESPN was involved in the discussions.
opinion

NFL Should Release Audio on Crucial Replay Decisions

The ACC let viewers in the replay booth last fall.

Featured Today

Collectible Cups Are Sending Sports Fans Into a Frenzy

The drink is secondary to the wild vessel it comes in.
Matt Palumb
May 8, 2026

Pro Lacrosse’s Top Ref Is As Famous As the Players

The last celebrity referee is in the Premier Lacrosse League.
May 2, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Saba Lobjanidze (11) reacts to his goal against the CF Montréal in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit
May 7, 2026

How Atlanta Unexpectedly Became the Epicenter of U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer is opening a new national HQ in Georgia.
Tottenham Hotspur
May 6, 2026

Tottenham Hotspur Is Facing a Billion-Dollar Disaster

A seemingly improbable drop to England’s second tier is a tangible possibility.

Netflix Deepens Its NFL Ties With Expanded Five-Game Package

The streaming giant significantly increased its presence with the league.
Apex, NC - February 15, 2026: Portrait of the Super Bowl LXI 61 Football.
May 13, 2026

ESPN Wants Its First Super Bowl to Be the Most-Watched Ever

Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl LIX holds the current record.
TNT Sports
May 13, 2026

WBD Leans Further Into Sports With Paramount Deal Looming

The TNT Sports parent company pushes ahead with its own programming plans.
Sponsored

What Is It Like to Run the Knicks?

Dave Checketts on his time running the Knicks & Jazz, Jordan war stories, and his investment strategy across major sports leagues.
May 13, 2026

NFL International Slate Gives Legacy Networks Bigger Stage

Legacy broadcast networks are core to this part of the schedule.
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald on the sideline against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
May 12, 2026

Super Bowl LXI Gets the Star Treatment at Disney Upfronts

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appears at the network’s upfront presentation.
Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; A NFL shield logo on an Honors trophy at the Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
exclusive
May 12, 2026

NFL Honors Expected to Move to Netflix

The NFL’s annual awards show is moving to streaming.
Packers fans watch as the 49ers celebrate one of their touchdowns on a giant TV screen at Mecca Sports Bar and Grill on Jan. 19, 2020.
May 12, 2026

NFL Schedule Tweaks Continue Erosion of Sunday’s Witching Hour

More standalone windows mean less inventory for “NFL RedZone.”