• Loading stock data...
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Tuned In is Almost Sold Out! Limited Tickets Remain!

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

exclusive

Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, Rob Dauster to Lead On3’s College Hoops..

Goodman previously worked for ESPN, CBS Sports, and Stadium.

Massachusetts Sues Kalshi To Block Sports Prediction Markets

A lawsuit claims the company’s offerings are indistinguishable from traditional sports bets.
Sep 11, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) dribbles past Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun (13) in the second half at Target Center.

As WNBA Grows, Engelbert Says Its Playoff Field Won’t for a While

Eight of thirteen WNBA teams made the playoffs this year.
opinion

19 Rising Stars in Sports Media

Who are sports media’s rising stars? Here’s an inside look.

Featured Today

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.

College Football Enters Week 3 Up 21% in TV Ratings

Total college football viewership across all networks is up big.
September 5, 2025

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
Sep 6, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports camera station before the game between the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
September 11, 2025

Lachlan Murdoch on Fox’s Sports Strategy, FanDuel Plans

The executive calls a forthcoming streaming bundle with ESPN “essential” for fans.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

The Death of Streameast Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mirror sites began popping up Thursday, the day the NFL season begins.
September 4, 2025

3 ABC Games Top 10M Viewers Each in ESPN’s Record CFB Weekend

Miami–Notre Dame led the way with 10.8 million viewers.
September 4, 2025

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.