What happened: The audience was the league’s largest for a regular-season game since its inaugural weekend in 1997. WNBA partner audiences were up 12% year over year at midseason.
Why it matters: The surge arrives in the first season of an 11-year, $2.2 billion media deal. Sustaining broad audiences would strengthen the league’s advertising and distribution position.
By the numbers: The 3.31 million average topped the 2.58 million Aug. 16 ESPN audience by 730,000, or about 28%.
What to watch: Upcoming national broadcasts will test whether the gains persist across the schedule. Postseason audiences will provide the next major benchmark.