The US women’s professional basketball league is enjoying a bumper season since former college stars such as Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, Chicago’s Angel Reese and Los Angeles’ Cameron Brink joined the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
The WNBA says the first month of the new season drew the highest attendance since the league’s second season in 1998 and the best television ratings in history.
The WNBA games are averaging 1.32 million viewers on television, nearly tripling last season’s average of 462,000. Black and Hispanic viewers are up 67% and 96%, respectively, indicating the sport’s growing appeal.
“The current state of women’s basketball is evidence of what we have always known: there is a market for women’s sports, and they are an excellent investment,” Colie Edison, the WNBA’s chief growth officer, was quoted as saying by apnews.com
“Growing involvement in all of our verticals gives us hope, especially as we welcome new and varied audiences into our fan community. The WNBA is still expanding steadily as our league takes advantage of this increased momentum.”
WNBA sets records for TV ratings and attendance; merchandise sales roaring.
Almost half the WNBA games were sold out before the end of May, which is more than twice as many did the year before.
About 400,000 fans are reported to have attended the games in the first month, the highest in 26 years.
Arenas are filled to 94% capacity, up 17% from the previous season.
Some games have been shifted to bigger venues. Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever playing in front of 20,333 spectators at the Washington Wizards’ downtown arena, rather than at the Mystics’ customary 4,200-seat venue, highlights the league’s growing appeal.